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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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• 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)
  • "million us dollars" (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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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.
  • +2299357 (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.
  • fedexcouriercompany25@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "john" <kellyjohn14@centrum.sk>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:13:50 +0200
Subject: CONTACT THE FEDEX COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX


 Dear Friend ,
 
I am very happy to inform you that I have been able to work out a new way to which you will receive this your funds as parcel and as it may interest you to know I have been able to get in contact with the FEDEX COURIER AND SECURITY COMPANY Diplomat Agent who is going to deliver the parcel to your door step and as I made the plan he will be delivering a parcel to you and the content of the parcel will be your funds in total  ( $1.2 Million us dollars ) as it was before although I did not revel to him about the content of the parcel because I simply told him that the content of the parcel is your personal belongings family valuables, Now leaving to saudi Arabia for a course and i will not be back till next two months.
 
Note that i have paid for the delivery and the insurance charges, the only money you will send to them is ($195 usd) only, which i wanted to pay to them but they refuse because they dont know when you will contact them to avoid dumuorage.
 
According to the management of the despatching company this afternoon he said that You can find their code number by side of the parcel, there is a place on it they will write TRP , when you open it through that side you will see the code to open it, so contact the company today on this information below:
NOW CONTACT THE FEDEX COURIER COMPANY WITH THIS INFORMATIONS BELOW.COMPANY NAME: FEDEX COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.
CONTACT PERSON;DR. WILLIAMS OBONG
EMAIL: (fedexcouriercompany25@gmail.com)
TEL/FAX +229-9357_6411
NOTE;  your fund as parcel will be register as family valuables
 
KINDLY RECOMFIRM YOUR INFORMATONS TO THEM TO AVOID MISTAKE WHEN DELIVERY SUCH AS;
 
1.YOUR FULL NAME........
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS........
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER....
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICETELEPHONE........
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE......
 
Regards.
DR.KELLY JOHN
 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam