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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • +22993907122 (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.
  • united_postalservice05@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "edward rawlings" <edward.rawlings.1@mailbox.hu>
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2008 03:49:06 +0200
Subject: CONTACT UNITED POSTAL SERVICE FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR PARKAGE


Dear Friend,


It has been long I heard from you, what is going on?. I want to inform you
that I have taken your package box of ($1.500.000.00) One Million five
hundred thousand United State dollars to the United postal Services (UPS)
Benin Republic for them to send it to you.


I meet the manager of the United Postal Services and I spoke with him for
the final delivery of the package to your country address and he promised me
that they will delivery your package box to your door step but you have to
take care of the security costs of keeping it till when you are ready to
receive it. He further told me that as soon as they heard from you they will
delivery the package box to you with out any delay.


Now I want you to contact the United Postal Service for the release of the
package, I have submited the package box to them. The director's name is:
(Dr. Dan Bruno).

Telephone:+229 9390 7122
E-mail: (united_postalservice05@hotmail.fr) Send them your full information
to enable them locate you when they get to your country ok.


FULL NAME____________
ADDRESS______________
TELL PHONE___________
FAX PHONE____________
YOUR SEX_____________
YOUR AGE_____________
COUNTRY______________
STATE________________
PHOTOGRAPH____________


Please do get back to me as soon as you have contacted United Postal
Service.

Regards.

Mr.Edward Rawlings.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam