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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic delivery"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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)
  • "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.
  • +22993482374 (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.
  • gm.couriercompany@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "peter john" <peter.john87@ig.com.br>
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 20:51:31 +0200
Subject: MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND,GLOBAL MAX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD


MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND,GLOBAL MAX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD

HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE PAID THE FEE FOR
YOUR CHEQUE DRAFT. AND I WENT TO THE BANK TO CONFIRM IF THE CHEQUE HAS
EXPIRED OR GETTING NEAR TO EXPIRE AND MRS SANDRA MATTHEW THE DIRECTOR OF
CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO) TOLD ME THAT BEFORE THE CHEQUE
WILL GET TO YOUR HAND THAT IT WILL EXPIRE.
SO I TOLD HIM TO CASH THE US$2.5MILLION US DOLLARS TO CASH PAYMENT TO AVOID
LOSTING THIS FUNDS.

HOWEVER, ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT OF DELIVERING THE US$2.5MILLION US
DOLLARS IN CASH WAS MADE WITH GLOBAL MAX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD. IN
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC, MRS SANDRA MATTHEW THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL BANK OF
WEST AFRICAN STATES (BCEAO) COTONOU HAVE TO CASH AND PACKAGE THE SUM OF
US$2.5MILLION US DOLLARS IN CASH FOR ME. THEN HE ALSO AGREED TO HELP ME TO
REGISTERTHE CONSIGNMENT BOX WITH GLOBAL MAX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD.
INFACT I'M HAPPY THAT EVERY MOVEMENT I MADE GOES NORMALLY.

AS FOR OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE GLOBAL MAX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD. THEY
PROMISED THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT WILL LEAVE THIS COUNTRY ON MONDAY NEXT WEEK,
BUT THE DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL MAX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD. SAID THAT
THEY NEED YOUR CONTACTS INFORMATIONS TO ABLE THEM MEET UP WITH YOU
IMMEDIATELY THE DIPLOMAT AGENT ARRIVED TO YOUR COUNTRY. PLEASE WRITE A
LETTER OF APPLICATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN DELIVERIES DEPARTMENT
ADDRESS BELOW.

ATTN:REV.CHAD MERCY
TEL: +229-93482374
EMAIL: (gm.couriercompany@yahoo.fr)


PLEASE, SEND THEM YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO ENABLE THEM LOCATE YOU
IMMEDIATELY THEY ARRIVED IN YOUR COUNTRY WITH YO.
THIS IS WHAT THEY NEED FROM YOU.

1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3. YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4. YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5. A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE

NOTE.GLOBAL MAX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD.DON'T KNOW THE CONTENTS OF THE
BOX. I REGISTERED IT AS A BOX OF FAMILY VALUABLES. THEY DON'T KNOW IT
CONTENTS IS MONEY. THIS IS TO AVOID THEM DELAYING WITH THE BOX. DON'T LET
THEM KNOW THAT IS MONEY THAT IS IN THAT BOX. MORE SO BE INFORMED THAT THIS
IS A GLOBAL MAX DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY AND NOT ALL GLOBAL MAX STAFF ARE AWARE
OF THE DELIVERY ONLY THE DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN DELIVERIES DEPARTMENT. DO
CONTACT HIM ALONE DIRECTLY ON HIS EMAIL(gm.couriercompany@yahoo.fr) YOU CAN
CALL THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY WITH THIS LINE: +229-97530722 THANKS AND
REMAIN BLESSED.

DR PETER JOHN (ESQ

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam