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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)
  • "courier service" (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)
• 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.
  • +22993017559 (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.
  • shalomcoourier.compan@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "frank williams" <frankwilliams.williams8@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:10:22 +0200
Subject: COURIER SERVICE COMPANY


(SAMANEGO & COUNSELORS AT LAW)
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft
$950,000.00 but did not heard from you since that time.Then I went and
deposited the Draft with SHALOM COURIER SERVICE COMPANY here in Benin
Republic, because I travelled to Iraq to see my boss and will not comeback
till next month end.I want You to contact the SHALOM COURIERSERVICECOMPANY
to know when they will deliver your package. I have paid for the delivering
charges and insurance fee.The only money you have to send to them is there
security keeping fee which is ($105.00 US) Dollars to received your
package.This is their Contact Address,


Dr.Paul Eri Contact
Director SHALOM COURIER SERVICE COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.
E-mail:(shalomcoourier.compan@hotmail.fr )
Phone number +229-93017559


Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the
securitykeeping fee.Below is the information you required to send to them;


Full name......................
Home address......................
Cell phone.......................
Home phone......................
Age.............................
Sex.............................
Country..........................


I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it tothemagain
to avoid any mistake on the delivering.I am waiting for
yoururgentresponse.You can even call the Director of SHALOM COURIER SERVICE
COMPANYwith this line +229-93017559
Let me know immediately you receive your Draft.

Thanks.
frank Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam