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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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• 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.

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:
  • "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)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  • +22993899815 (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.
  • utccourier1@sify.com
  • utccourier11@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Chris Hooks" <chrishooks02@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:20:50 +0200
Subject: THIS IS FOR YOUR KINDNESS.


*Hello my good friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I have tried
to contact you previously on this email but it returned. But i am compelled
to try a last time, hoping it will get to you this time. *
**
*I am using this opportunity to inform you that this multi-million-dollar
business has been concluded with the assistance of another partner from
Chile who financed the transaction to a logical conclusion. At the moment, i
have just arrived in India for some business negotiations. It is
unfortunate that we could not conclude the transaction together as planned.
Yet i did not forget your kind efforts.

In appreciation of your efforts, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you
showed during the course of the transaction, i deposited a certified Bank
Draft for you, which is worth $1,200, 000.00 and cashable anywhere in the
world. For its safety, i have deposited it with UTC COURIER AND DIPLOMATIC
COMPANY for immediate delivery to you. You are required to contact the
courier company for its immediate delivery with the following information
below: *
**
*YOUR FULL NAMES*
*YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS*
*YOUR PHONE NUMBER/ MOBILE*
*YOUR OCCUPATION*
*YOUR AGE*
**
*These information are are required by the courier company to ensure that
they do not deliver it to a wrong person. The contact of the courier company
is stated below:*
**
*
Contact person: Rev George Uka.
UTC Courier And Diplomatic Company
Cotonou, Benin Republic,
Tel: +229-938 998 15.
Email addresses:
**utccourier1@sify.com*<http://us.f373.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=utccourier1@sify.com>,
*utccourier11@sify.com*<http://us.f373.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=utccourier11@sify.com>
*
As soon as you contact them, they will deliver your draft to you within a
few days.*
*
Thanks and God bless you and your family. You are a friend indeed.

Hoping to hear from you as soon as you cash your Bank Draft.

Engr. Chris Hooks.

*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam