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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
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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. )
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: <johnsonobi201@centrum.cz>
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:44:24 +0100
Subject: CONTACT PARCEL EXPRESS OF PACKAGE,


From Mrs Johnson Obi (PX002 ) .

Good Day!

I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Cashier=
s Cheque but did not hear from you since that time. So i went to the bank=
to confirm if the draft is getting close to expire and the Manager of th=
e bank told me that before the draft will get to your address that it wil=
l expire. Then I told him to help me and cash the bank draft of $2.5 mill=
ion to cash payment.

However, I have successfully cashed the draft and packaged your Cash in a=
Cargo box and had registered it in the PARCEL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY he=
re in Benin Republic because I will travel soon to see my boss and will n=
ot come back soon.

You have to contact the PARCEL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY to know when they =
will deliver your package to your address. I have paid for the delivering=
charges and insurance fees. The only money you have to send to them is t=
heir SECURITY KEEPING FEE to receive your package and as i do not know wh=
en you will be contacting them.

HERE IS PARCEL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY ADDRESS BELOW/=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=
=A0=C2=A0=20
DR ARNOLD EZE
E-MAIL: (parcelservices@live.fr)
CONTACT PHONE (+229)93135559
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immed=
iately they arrived in your country with your BOX.

This is the information they need from you.=20
1. YOUR FULL NAME.
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3. YOUR CURRENT MOBILE NUMBER.

Try to contact PARCEL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY as soon as possible to avoi=
d increasing the security keeping fees.=20
Note; I didn't tell the PARCEL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY that it's money in=
side the box, I registered it as a package of an African cloths/Family
Valuables.

This is to avoid delaying or any upfront problem during the delivery, So =
do not let them to know that the package contents money inside until you =
have received it in your house address ok and this is the code which you =
send to them for verifications(PX002).

Do let me know as soon as you received your package. Contact me by email =
ok.

Best Regards,
Mrs Johnson Obi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam