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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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.

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:
  • "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)
  • "does not know the contents of the box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +22996020279 (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.
  • wunschname@freenet.de

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:01:57 +0200
Subject: DEAR FRIEND,


DEAR FRIEND,
HOW ARE YOU DOING? I WRITE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE
REGISTERED YOUR CHEQUE DRAFT, BUT THE MANAGER OF FINANCIAL TRUST BANK
BENIN TOLD ME THAT BEFORE THE CHEQUE WILL GET TO YOU THAT IT WILL
EXPIRE.
SO I TOLD HIM TO CASH THE $2.5 MILLION US DOLLARS AND ALL THE
NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT OF DELIVERING THE $2.5 MILLION USD IN CASH WAS
MADE WITH Glo TRUST COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC. FURTHERMORE, WRITE A
LETTER OF APPLICATION TO THE GIVEN ADDRESS BELOW.
DIRECTOR NAME:
DR.JOHN BROWN.COMPANY
PHONE NUMBER: +229-960-202-79.COMPANY
E-MAIL:
(speedtrustdeliverycompan@live.fr).
HOWEVER, SEND THEM YOUR CONTACT
INFORMATION TO ENABLE THEM LOCATE YOU IMMEDIATELY THEY ARRIVE IN YOUR
COUNTRY WITH YOUR BOX. BELOW 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 ID 6.YOUR AGE
7.COUNTRY.

(NOTE). THE COURIER COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX. I
REGISTERED IT AS A BOX OF AN AFRICA CLOTHS, THEY DON\'T KNOW IT
CONTAINED MONEY. THIS IS TO AVOID THEM DELAYING WITH THE BOX SO DON\'T
LET THEM KNOW THAT IS MONEY THAT IS IN THE BOX. YOURS,
MRS FAITH
MATHS.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam