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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "courier company" (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 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.
  • +22993567095 (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.
  • fedex_couriercompany152@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "miketoni88 Gazeta.pl" <miketoni88@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:36:31 +0100
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY


Hello Dear,

I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of Eko Bankn Benin
told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire.So i told
him to cash $1.5M USA DOLLar all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
$1.5M USA DOLLar in cash was made with FedEX DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY.

This is the information they need to delivery your package to you.with FEDEX
DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY, contact them now.

NAME:FEDEX COURIER DELIVERING COMPANY.
ATTANTION: PERSON: DR.JERRY LAWRENCE
POSITION: FOREIGN DELIVERY DEPARTMENT.
ADDRESS: COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
E-MAIL: fedex_couriercompany152@yahoo.fr
Phone number: PHONE NUMBER: +229 9356 7095

Please, Send them your contacts 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. YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
6.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE

Note that this is there E-mail contact (fedex_couriercompany152@yahoo.fr)

Please make sure you send this needed info's to the Director general of
FEDEX DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC,DR.JERRY Lawrence with the
address given to you.

Note. The Fedex Delivery Courier Company don't know the contents of the Box.
I registered it as a Box of an African cloths. 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.

Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Barr UCHENNA UBA (ESQ)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam