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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22993897092 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: =?UTF-8?Q?helenjoan3?= <helenjoan3@o2.pl>
Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:53:03 +0200
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?CONTACT_FEDEX?=


Dear Friend,I didnot hear from you since for your Confirmable check of $1.2m USD,
which i kept for I went and deposited it with FedEx,
so contact them.P.R.O: Dr.Mark White
Email: fedxcourier@asistencia.org
FAX: +229 93 89 7092I paid for the delivering Charges except their Security Keeping
Fee of $115 USD which they said no because they don't know
when you will contact them in case of demurrage.so you
are to pay the $115 as soon as you contact them.Regards,
Mrss Helen Joan
 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam