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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:
  • "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.
  • +22993862938 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS FAITHMALU" <m.faithmalu9@ig.com.br>
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:18:49 +0200
Subject: PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.


Good Day!!!,

We have been waiting for you since to contact us for your Confirmable Bank
Draft of $850,000 United States Dollars which my

husband kept for but we did not hear from you since that time. So I told him
the bank manager to cash the $850,000 USD UNITED

STATES DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losing this funds under expiration
as I will be out out of the country for a 3Months

Course and I will not come back till end of Nov. 2008.

The only money you will send to the Courier Company to deliver your
Consignment direct to your postal Address in your

country is ($128.00 US)One Hundred & Twenty Eight United States Dollars only
being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier

Company so far.Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money
except $128.00 US 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 COMPANY now for the delivery of your Draft with this information
bellow;
Contact Person: Dr. Doussou Johnson
Email :( fedex_express01@ymail.com )
Tel/FAX: +229 93 862938
What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY as soon as
possible.
Just pay immediately their security keeping fee $128 only .

SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZS
PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.
SECURITY CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/

Best Regards
Mr.Faithmalu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam