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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "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 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.
  • +22993124155 (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.
  • fedexexpresscourier24@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "RAYMOND BASSEY" <raymondbassey07@ig.com.br>
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 12:49:40 +0200
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX COURIER COMPANY NOW ???


Greetings!

This is serve as notice for your OVER DUE PAYMENT, I sent this message
before but did not hear from you since that time before the Minister of
Finance order to arrange your fund $1,200,000.00 usd in a Consignment box
and move it to Security Department for safety keeping. He also arrange with
FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY here in Benin Republic to deliver the box to
you once you contact them. At my greatest suprise i called Fedex Courier
Company today just to confirm that you have received the box but they said
that you did not contact them since. I dont know because I travelled to
india to see my boss and will not come back till end of december 2008. You
have to contact the FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY now to know when they will
deliver your $1,200,000.00 usd in a Consignment box.

The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee which
is $175.00 Us Dollars to received your Consignment.

This is there Contact information
Mr James Okolo Director
FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY
Benin Republic,
E-mail;(fedexexpresscourier24@yahoo.fr)
Phone number +229 9312 4155.

Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security
keeping fee.I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it
to them again to avoid any mistake in the delivering, Let me know as soon as
you receive your Draft.

Finally, I did not tell Fedex Express Courier Company the real content of
the box, this is for security reason, i just registered it as a valueable
Box and for no reason you should tell them that your box contain physical
cash for the safety of the box. $175 is the only money you will pay them.

THANK,s
Dr Raymond Bassey

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam