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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993445791 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: morganpeter <petermorgan@yp.com.hk>
Reply-To: fedexcourierservice114@live.com
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:49:05 +0000
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX COURIER FOR THE DEIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE



Dear friend,

How are you today ?.I'm writing to inform you that I have Paid the fee
for your Draft Cheque. And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque
has expired or getting near to expire and Mr.Ahmed Zuma the Director
of A.D.B bank he told me that before the cheque will get to your hand
that it will expire. So I told him to cash the $850,000.00, to cash
payment to avoid losing this funds under expiration as I will be out
out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come back till
end of NOVEMBER 2008. What you have to do now is to contact the FedEx
Delivery Express as soon as possible to know when they will deliver
your package to you because of the expiring date.For your information,
I have paid for the isurance and delivering Charge.

The only money you will send to the FedEx Express to deliver your
Consignment direct to your postal Address in your country is $98usd
NINETY EIGHT United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee
forthe Fedex Service so far.Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay
any other money except $98.00. I would have paid that but they said no
because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of
dumourrage on your consignment.

Please write a letter of application to the given address below:

Company Name: FedEx Express
Director: Dr.Han A. Markus
Contact Email: fedexcourierservice114@live.com
Contact Tel: +229-9344-5791
Contact Fax: +229-98-81-10

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address,nearest
local and international airport, Direct telephone number to them again
to avoid any mistake on the Delivery.they will issue you a tracking
number to enable you track your consignment box and know when it will
get to your address.

Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this
mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their
Security Keeping fee of $98.00 for theirimmediate action. Note this.
The FedEx Express don't know the contents of the Box. I registered it
as a BOX of Africa cloths. They did not know the contents was money.
this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don't let them know that
box contains money ok.

Thanks and Remain Blessed.

Regards,
Dr Peter Morgan

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam