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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic delivery"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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)
  • "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22993905158 (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.
  • fdx.courierservice01@gmail.com
  • 3afdx.courierservice01@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "demion.okala4 Gazeta.pl" <demion.okala4@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 23:55:39 +0200
Subject: MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND,


MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND,

HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE PAID THE FEE
FOR YOUR CHEQUE DRAFT. AND I WENT TO THE BANK TO CONFIRM IF THE CHEQUE
HAS EXPIRED OR GETTING NEAR TO EXPIRE AND MRS SANDRA MATTHEW THE
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO) TOLD ME THAT
BEFORE THE CHEQUE WILL GET TO YOUR HAND THAT IT WILL EXPIRE. SO I TOLD
HIM TO CASH THE US$2.5MILLION US DOLLARS TO CASH PAYMENT TO AVOID
LOSTING THIS FUNDS.

HOWEVER, ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT OF DELIVERING THE US$2.5MILLION
US DOLLARS IN CASH WAS MADE WITH FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD.
IN COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC, MRS SANDRA MATTHEW THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL
BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO) COTONOU HAVE TO PACKAGE THE SUM OF
US$2.5MILLION US DOLLARS IN CASH FOR ME. THEN SHE ALSO AGREED TO HELP
ME TO REGISTERTHE CONSIGNMENT BOX WITH FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY
LTD. INFACT I'M HAPPY THAT EVERY MOVEMENT I MADE GOES NORMALLY.
AS FOR OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD. THEY
PROMISED THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT WILL LEAVE THIS COUNTRY ON MONDAY NEXT
WEEK, BUT THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD. SAID
THAT THEY NEED YOUR CONTACTS INFORMATIONS TO ABLE THEM MEET UP WITH YOU

IMMEDIATELY THE DIPLOMAT AGENT ARRIVED TO YOUR COUNTRY. PLEASE WRITE A
LETTER OFAPPLICATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN DELIVERIES DEPARTMENT
ADDRESS BELOW.

ATTN:REV. DR. DOUGLAS HALL
TEL: +: +229-93-905158
EMAIL:fdx.courierservice01@gmail.com<EMAIL%3Afdx.courierservice01@gmail.com>
WEBSITE : WWW.FEDEX.COM

PLEASE, SEND THEM YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO ABLE THEM LOCATE YOU
IMMEDIATELY THEY ARRIVED IN YOUR COUNTRY WITH YOUR BOX .THIS IS WHAT
THEY NEED FROM YOU.

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

NOTE.FEDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD.DON'T KNOW THE CONTENTS OF THE
BOX. I REGISTERED IT AS A BOX OF AN FAMILY VALUABLES. THEY DON'T KNOW
IT CONTENTS MONEY. THIS IS TO AVOID THEM DELAYING WITH THE BOX. DON'T
LET THEM KNOW THAT IS MONEY THAT IS IN THAT BOX. MORE SO BE INFORMED
THAT THIS IS A FEDEX DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY AND NOT ALL FEDEX STAFF ARE
AWARE OF THE DELIVERY ONLY THE DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN DELIVERIES
DEPARTMENT. DO CONTACT HIM ALONE DIRECTLY ON HIS EMAIL.

YOU CALL THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY WITH THIS LINE: +229-93-905158
THANKS AND REMAIN BLESSED.

BARR.UGOCHUKWU GARRY (ESQ)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam