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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22993905641 (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.
  • rcclimited@netcourrier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MBAH CHRISS" <chrissmbah3@livedoor.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:52:01 +0100
Subject: THE PAYMENT OF YOUR HONESTY AND PATIENCE


THE PAYMENT OF YOUR HONESTY AND PATIENCE

ATTENTION..Please!!!!!

The Bank of Africa decleared an ACCRUED INTEREST of $1.500,000.00 of your
unpaid lotto prize,next of kin and returned cheque of your compensation
payments, which has been lodging in the bank for so long .the operation
manager of the bank boxed the monies and deposited with ROYAL COURIER
COMPANY, so to deliver to you as a cash payment to avoid another stress of
ktt since the bank disappointed you in the past for failing to transfer the
fund to you in the first place due to some inevitable reasons.

Your thereby to contact the ROYAL COURIER COMPANY,with your delivery
details including your telephone number,so that they will deliver the
package (boxed money) to your personal receipt as this would be the best
system to pay your ACCRUED INTEREST at this pointing time,

Their contacts are below

MR.JULIAN MAYEE
EMAIL: rcclimited@netcourrier.com
CALL: +229 93905641

However, you will have to pay a little to the ROYAL COURIER Department
being full payment for the Security Keeping Fee of the ROYAL COURIER
COMPANY as stated in their privacy terms & condition page. Also be informed
that i wished to pay for the Security Keeping charges, but they do not
accept such payment considering the facts that all items & packages that is
registered with them have a time limitation and they did not accept payment
having known not when you will be picking up the package or even responding
to them . So they can not take the risk to have accepted such payment
incase of any possible damage or demurrage.


Thanks for your patience

Sincerely.

Engr.CHRISS MBAH
P.R.O
W.A.D.L.C
west African Debt liquidations Commitee

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam