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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22993865077 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "office file" <officemailbox37@gala.net>
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:51:32 +0200
Subject: CONTACT DHL GLOBAL FORWARDING COMPANY IMMEDIATELY


*Dear Friend,

I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of African Bank
Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire.So
i told him to cash $1.500,000.00 all the necessary arrangement of delivering
the $1.500,000.00 in cash was made with DHL GLOBAL COMPANY. This in the
information they need to delivery your package to you.

ATTN:====DR ABEL JOHNSON
TEl: :====+229-938-650-77
EMAIL===(**dhlcustomere@live.fr* <dhlcustomere@live.fr>*)*

*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 COUNTRY
4.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
5.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
6.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE

Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid mistake on the delivery.I
gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to them again
to avoid any mistake in the delivering including with your ID or
Picture.Hoping to hear from you as soon as you receive the package box
contains $1.5MILLION .

SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZS
PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.
SECURITY CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/
TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/
CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01

Note.The DHL GLOBAL COMPANY don't know the contents of the Box.I registered
it as a Box of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contents $1.5MILLION.
don't let them know that is money that is in that package Box.*

*Thanks and God bless you and your family.**
Barrister Nnameka Okwumu*

* *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam