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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.

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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)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22998441566 (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.
  • fdxcouriercompany44@linuxmail.org

Fraud email example:

From: fdxcouriercompany44@linuxmail.org
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:12:41 +0000
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX COURIER SERVICE COMPANY



Dear Friend,
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable
Bank Draft of 2.5M United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you
since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX
COURIER SERVICE, Cotonou, Benin Republic before I travelled out of the
country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come back till end of the
year .What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE
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 delivering Charge, Insurance
premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is
not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your
Country.The only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to
deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is
($95.00 US) Dollars only. Being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier
Company so far.Again, don't be deceived byanybody to pay any other
money except $95.00US Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no
because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of
demurrage.
You have to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of
your Draft with this information bellow;
Contact Person: Rev William Paul
Email Address:(fdxcouriercompany44@linuxmail.org)
Telephone:+229-98441566
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct
telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery
and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your
package over there 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 $95.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.You should
also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft.
Yours Faithfully,
AdamsWilliam

CONTACT FEDEX COURIER SERVICE COMPANY

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam