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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22997855180 (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.
  • info.parcelxpress52@yahoo.it

Fraud email example:

From: "goodwillwilliams032 Gazeta.pl" <goodwillwilliams032@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 04:37:49 +0200
Subject: CONTACT PARCEL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY


From Barrister Goodwill Williams (PX008 ) .

Dear Friend:

The manager of Bank of Africa Benin told me that before the cheque will get
to you that it will expire. So i told him to cash the $1.5 Million Dollars
to cash payment all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1.5 million
in cash was made with PARCEL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY LIMITED.

Call the director of PARCEL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY LIMITED immediately to
verify this from him so that he can give you the correct step to follow so
that you will not make mistake +229-978 551 80 with out waisting time. Use
this code (PX008 ) As your subject when contacting the company to enable
them identify you as the owner of the consignment i registered with them.I
have paid for the delivering charges The only money you have to send to them
is the security keeping fee which will not be above $200 US Dollars to
received your consignment.

CONTACT PERSON; DR. ARNOLD AKA DISTRICT MANAGER PX Courier Company
Limited BENIN REPUBLIC.
E-MAIL: (info.parcelxpress52@yahoo.it)
CONTACT PHONE (+229)9785 5180

Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security
keeping fee. Reconfirm below information to the company to enable them not
make mistake of delivering your Consignment Box to the wrong Person.
Your Full Name--------------------
Your Address----------------------
Home telephone--------------------
Office telephone------------------
Your pic--------------------------

Let me know as soon as you receive your package for Confirmation. Do not
forget to use this code ( PX008 ) As your subject when contacting the
company to enable them identify you as the owner of the consignment i
registered in their Custody.

Your's in Service
Barrister Goodwill Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam