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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:
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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:
  • "insurance fee " (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. )
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  • +22997515176 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Frank Umar" <frankum1@hosanna.net>
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:31:04 +0100
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY FOR YOUR BANK DRAFT


Dearest Friend

How are you doing?I have been waiting for you since to come down here and
pick your Bank Draft $1.7Millon US. Dollars but did not heard from you
since, then I went and deposited the Draft with Fedex Courier Company,here
in Benin Republic, because I travelled to Dubai to see my boss and will not
come back till next month end. You have to contact the Fedex Courier
Company, to know when they will deliver your Bank Draft to you because i
have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee and Yellow Tac fee.

The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee for
your draft to there office which is $105.00 Us Dollars to received your
package .Don't be deceived by any body This is there Contact Address below:

FEDEX COURIER COMPANY
DIRECTOR, DR. ALLEN UBA.
E-mail;(fedex_c_benin@live.fr)
Phone number +229-97515176.

Try to contact them as soon as possible now to avoid increasing the security
keeping fee. I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm
them your draft Registration number below:

Identification Number..... FDE 491110
Registration Number....................FDE 405

Send this to them to avoid any mistake in the delivering. Let me know as
soon as you receive your Draft from the company.

Best Regards
Barr.Frank Umar

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam