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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:
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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)
  • "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
  • +22993913542 (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.
  • diplomaticdelivercompanyb@rocketmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "frankumar30 Gazeta.pl" <frankumar30@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:32:41 +0100
Subject: CONTACT DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY COMPANYFOR YOUR BANK DRAFT OF $850.000.00


(FRANK UMAR & COUNSELORS AT LAW)
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft
but did not heard from you since that time ,then I went and deposited the
Draft with DIPLOMATIC DELIVER COMPANY here in Benin Republic , because I
travelled to IRAN to see my boss and will not come back till next month
end. You have to contact the DIPLOMATIC DELIVER COMPANY to know when they
will deliver your package .I have paid for the delivering charges and
insurance fee.

The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee which
is $98.00 Us Dollars to received your package .Don't be deceived by any body
This is there Contact Address Contact Dr.CHRIS EZE, Director DIPLOMATIC
DELIVER COMPANY Benin Republic.
E-mail;(diplomaticdelivercompanyb@rocketmail.com) Phone number
(+229-939-135-42.)

Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security
keeping fee. I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm
it to them as below:
Your Full Name-----------------------
Your Address---------------------------
Home telephone---------------------
Office telephone---------------------
Your draft registration number ---------EM 5507439
Send this to them to avoid any mistake in the delivering. Let me know as
soon as you receive your Draft from the company.

Best Regards
Barr.Frank Umar

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam