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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22993430781 (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.
  • fedexcourier_benin20@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Jimmy" <jimpet29@mail.mn>
Reply-To: fedexcourier_benin20@hotmail.fr
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:20:44 +0200
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX COURIER NOW


CONTACT FEDEX COURIER NOW

Dear Friend,

I have not heard from you since for your Bank Draft of $1.2m USD, which i
kept for you so I went and deposit it with Fedex Courier as box of african
clothes so contact them Now.

Manager: Dr.Onodu
Email: fedexcourier_benin20@hotmail.fr
FAX: +229 9343 0781

I paid for the delivering Charges except their Security Keeping Fee of $165
USD which they said no because they don't know when you will contact them in
case of demurrage.so you are to pay the $165 as soon as you contact them.

You are hereby Adviced to Re-comfirm the below informations to him so as to
enable him ship the draft to you.

YOUR NAME FULL NAME....................
FULL ADDRESS.....................................
PHONE NUMBER................................
IDENTIFICATION CARD/ PASSPORT/DRIVERS LICENSE......................

Regards
Peter Jimmy

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam