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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
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "DEPT OFFIC" <deptoffic6@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:32:11 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,


Dear Friend,

I'm tired of keeping your $1,5M Dollars Certified Bank CHEQUE in my office.
I have deposited the $1,5M Certified Bank Cheque with Dhl office here in
Benin Republic, because am traveling to Paraguay this night for urgent
massage and will not come back till next four month, for this rising I can't
keep the cheque any more.

Contact the Dhl office in Benin on this email: (marcphilip101@live.fr )
with your full delivery address and phone number for easy delivery of your
$1,5M United State Dollars Certified Bank Cheque.

I wish you Good Luck as you contact them through this email address:
marcphilip101@live.fr


BEST REGARDS,
DR JOHNSON WILLIAMS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam