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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22997555686 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • fedexcourier_sarl@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: nelson85@freenet.de
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:12:41 +0100
Subject: CONTACT FedEx Express Delivery COMPANY Ltd


Good day
How are you today? I am writing to inform you that went to the
bank to
confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and
Mr.Ahmed
Zafa the Director of Financial Trust Bank told me that before
the cheque
will get to your hand that it will expire. So I told him to
cashthe$1,500.000
US dollar to cash payment to avoid losting this
funds.
However, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
$1,500.00 US
dollar in cash was made with FEDEX EXPRESS COMPANY here in
Cotonou
Benin Republic, Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Financial Trust
Bank
Cotonou have to package the sum of $1.500.00 US dollar in cash for
me.
Then he also agreed to help me to Register the Consignment with
FEDEX
EXPRESS COMPANY. Infact I thank God very much for all the movement
I
made, every thing goes normally. As for our agreement with the
FEDEX
EXPRESS COMPANY they promised that your consignment will leave
this
Country any moment from now ,But the Director of the FEDEX
EXPRESS
COMPANY said that they need your contacts informations to able
them meet
up with you immediately the Diplomat Agent arrived to your
Country.
Please write a letter of application to the given address
below.
Director FedexExpressCompany Ltd
ATTN: WHITE HARRY
TEL:
+229-97555686
EMAIL: fedexcourier_sarl@yahoo.it
Please, Send them your
contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived
in your country with your BOX .This is what they
need from you.
1.YOUR
FULL NAME:
2.YOUR COUNTRY:
3.YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
4.YOUR CURRENT HOME
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
5.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE:
6.A COPY OF YOUR
PICTURE
7.YOUR AGE
Please make sure you send this needed infomation to
the Director general
of FedEx Express Delivery COMPANY Ltd CHIEF WHITE
HARRY
with the
address given to you.
Note. The FedEx Express Delivery
COMPANY Ltd don\'t know the contents
of the Box. I registered it as a
Box of an Africa cloths. They don\'t know it
contents money. this is to
avoid them delaying with the Box. don\'t let them
know that is money
that is in that Box.I am waiting for your urgent
response. You can even
call the Director of FedEx Express Delivery
COMPANY Ltd CHIEF WHITE
HARRY
with this line +229-97555686
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
SECRETARY
NELSON JAMES


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam