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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:
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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:

• 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:
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. )
  • "certified bank draft" (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. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • peterbill69@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Nick Petis" <nickpetisq10@gmail.com>
Reply-To: peterbill69@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 11:56:59 +0200
Subject: BELOW IS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO DELIVER THE PACKAGE TO YOU.


GOOD DAY,

GREETINGS TO YOU AND HOW ARE YOU DOING? HOPE FINE.I AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM
YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE FUNDS TRANSFERED UNDER THE
CO-OPERATION OF MY NEW PARTNER FROM GERMANY AND I WILL NOT FORGET YOUR PAST
EFFORTS TO ASSIST ME TO TRANSFER THOSE FUNDS DESPITE THAT IT FAILED US SOME
HOW.

I DRAFTED A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OF ($1,500,000.00) DOLLARS TO COMPENSATE
YOU AND I GOT INFORMATION FROM DIRECTOR UBA BANK THAT THE CHEQUE HAS ONE
WEEK TO EXPIRE.DUE TO OUR PAST PROBLEM WE ENCOUNTERED, I INSTRUCTED MY
SECRETARY TO RETURN THE CHEQUE BACK TO THE BANK AND I TOLD THE DIRECTOR
TONY O.ELUMELU TO CONVERT THE CHEQUE INTO CASH TO AVOID LOOSING THE MONEY.

ALL THE ARRANGEMENT OF DELIVERING $1,500,000.00 IN CASH WAS MADE SUCCEESFUL
WITH DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY.THE FUNDS $1.5 MILLION IS ALREADY DEPOSITED
AS AFRICAN CLOTHES COVERD WITH INSURANCE BOND WITH THE DIPLOMATIC COURIER
FOR SAFETY OF YOUR FUNDS.

CONTACT THE DIPLOMATIC COURIER IN CHARGE DR PETER BILL,AND INSTRUCT WHERE TO
DELIVER THE BOX SINCE THE FUNDS IS COMING IN CASH.Email: (
peterbill69@yahoo.fr) NOTE THAT DR PETER BILL DOES NOT KNOW THAT THE REAL
CONTENT OF THE BOX IS FUNDS $1.5MILLION JUST FOR SECURITY REASON AND TO
AVOID INTERCEPTORS.

BELOW IS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO DELIVER THE PACKAGE TO YOU.

1.YOUR FULL NAME:-------------------------------
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS:--------------------------
3.YOUR CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER:-----------------------
4.YOUR DATE OF BIRTH:------------------------------------
5.YOUR ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION
6. INCLUDE YOUR BOX REGISTERED NUMBER(00864)

I HAVE PAID FOR THE DELIVERY FEE AND MY SECRETARY STATED THAT THE TRUNK BOX
FUND WAS DEPOSITED AS AFRICAN CLOTHS FOR SECURITY REASONS AND IT IS
COVEREDWITH INSURANCE BOND. DONT LET DR PETER BILL TO KNOW THE REAL CONTENT
OF THE BOX FOR THE SECURE OF YOUR FUNDS.

I'M BUSY HERE WITH MY NEW PARTNER FOR INVESTMENT PROJECT IN GERMANY THIS IS
THE REASON YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDS THROUGH COURIER.

I JUST HAVE THIS OPPORSTUNITY TO EMAIL YOU TODAY. DO LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS
YOU RECEIVE THE FUND SO THAT BOTH OF US WILL SHARE JOY TOGETHER.

REGARDS
NICK PETIS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam