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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "insurance fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • infogspcourier@o2.pl

Fraud email example:

From: barr.jameswilliams@freenet.de
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:31:09 +0200
Subject: Dear Good Friend,


Dear Good Friend,

I have been waiting for you to come down here and
collect your compensation prize of $1,200,000,00 (One Million Two
Hundred Thousand US Dollars) I did not hear from you since then I went
and deposit the two Copper Boxes contain the fund with GSP SECURITY
COURIER SERVICE COMPANY here in Benin Republic, because I want to travel
to Australia to see my new partner and will not come back till after six
months, meanwhile I did not forget your effort at that time despite that
it failed us some how, feel free to contact the GSP Security Courier
Company immediately so that we can share the joy together. Contact the
GSP SECURITY COURIER SERVICE COMPANY to know when they will deliver your
Boxes to you.

I have paid for the delivery charges.The only money you
have to pay them is your consignment insurance fee which can not be
above $120 Dollars to enable them insure your consignment before they
affect the delivery to you. Comply with them because the insurance is
very necessary for safe delivery. This is their Contact information;
MR.JOHN GOMEZ DIRECTOR (GSP) Courier Company Limited Benin
Republic,E-mail:(infogspcourier@o2.pl) Phone number+2299-729-8892 Try to
contact them as soon as possible to enable the delivery of your Boxes to
you as scheduled.

Endeavor to confirm your current information to
them, make sure you send your address accurate to avoid any mistake or
wrongful delivery. Let me know as soon as you receive your Boxes. Below
is the information they needed from you,

Full
Name______________________________________
Current
Address________________________________
Current Phone
Number___________________________

Country________________________________________

Thanks,
Dr.Donald
Duke.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam