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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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 "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.
  • +22998799290 (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.
  • revthhele@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: revths@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:22:19 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear, Contact Apex Courier For your Package


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: revthhele@yahoo.com



- Dear friend How are you today ?.I'am writing to inform you thatI have Paid the fee for your Draft Cheque. Yesterday, I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Mr.Allen Kim the Director of B.O.A Bank of Africa told me that before the cheque will get to your hand that it will expire. So I told him to cash the $950,000.00, to cash payment to avoid losing this fundsunder expiration as I will be out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come back till the end of the month. What you have to do now is to contact the Apex as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you immediatey For your information, I have paid for the yellow tag fee and delivery Charge. The only money you will send to the Apex Courier to deliver your Consignment direct to your postal Address in your country is US$106 One Hundred & Six United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee for the Apex Service so far. I would have pa!
id that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of dumourrage on your Package with them.Please write a letter of application to the given address below: Company Name: Apex Courier Manager. Nelson Fabian Email: apexbj@live.fr Contact Tel: +229-98-799 290, Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address, Driver's Licence, Direct Phone Number and nearest local and internationalair port,contact address and picture or id to avoid wrong delivery, they will issue you a delivery code#, to enable you track your consignment Package an d know when it will get to your address Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $106.00 for their immediate action to deliver urgently. Note this. The Apex Courier don't know the contents of the Package. I registered it as a BOX of Africa cloths They did not know the contents was money. thi!
s is to avoid them delaying with the Package. Don't let them know that
Package contains money ok. Thanks and More Blesssing. Regards, Mrs Helen P. Peter

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam