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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +22997455561 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "olise charles" <charlesolise@mailbox.hu>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 14:57:28 +0100
Subject: CONTACT EFEX EXPRESS COMPANY


*Dear friend,*

*I want to inform you that the fee for your Cheque Draft has been Paid on
January 2008. because i went to the Eco bank that issued the cheque to
comfirm if *

*the cheque has expired and the manager of EcoBank Benin told me that before
the check will get to you it will expire. So i told him to cash the
$1200.000.00, *

*all the necessary arrangement of delivering of the $1200.000.00 in cash was
made with EFEX EXPRESS COMPANY WORLD WIDE.*

*Here is the contact of the Efex Company World Wide bellow.*

*ATTN: Mr HARRY DOMINIC.
EMAIL:(**efexexpresscourier@live.fr* <efexexpresscourier@live.fr>*)
CALL THE Mr Harry +229 974-555-61*

*Please send them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX. This the information
they need *

*from in order to delivery your box to youraddress.*

*1.YOUR FULL NAME...
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS ....
3 YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.....
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.......
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE.........*

*Please make sure you send this needed informations to the Director general
Efex express courier company world wild in Benin Mr HARRY DOMINIC. with the
*

*address given to you.Note. The Efex express courier company here don't know
the contents of the Box. I registered it as a dameges of jeans returning to
the *

*retaler.Note:The company don't know that the contents of the box is
money.Please don't let them to know that the contents of the Box is money to
avoid them *

*from delaying with the box. I am waiting for your urgent response.*

*Meanwhile remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $185 USD
Dollars for their immediate.they will use to obtain insurance certificate
and claims of *

*affadvite that will prove that the box belongs to you. Berest assure that
all other fees have been paid by me.I am waiting for your urgent response.*

*Thanks*

*Mr Charles Olise*

*
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam