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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "activation 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. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22997861501 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Thomas Guettler <drthomasguettler15@msn.com>
Reply-To: <d_h_l@live.fr>
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:47:04 +0000
Subject: ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL



ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL
zenith HeightsPlot 87 Ajose Adeogun Street,
COTONOU BENIN REP.

Attn:Payment Notification,

This is to bring to your notice that, I have paid the re-activation fee and the delivery of your ATM.I paid it because the ATM Card 8119 1.5m usd,has less three days to expire and when it expires,the money will go into Government purse.With that I decided to help you pay the money so that,the ATM will not expire,because I know when you get your ATM definitely you must pay me back my money and even compensate me for helping you.

Now i want you to contact DHL Delivery Service with your Full Contact informations so that they can deliver your Card to your designated address without any delay. Like i stated earlier, The delivery charges has been paid but i did not pay their official keeping fees since they refused. They refused and the reason is that they do not know when you are going to contact them and dumurrage might have increase.

They told me that their keeping fees is 25usd per day and i deposited it on friday this week.
Below is their Contact Informations,
Contact Person: Hon Jerry Leo
DHL Delivery Service
Email: (d_h_l@live.fr)
Tel: +229 97861501

Contact Today to avoid increase of their keeping fees and let me know once you receive your
Card.
Yours
Rev.Dr.Thomas Guettler
ATM OFFICE
ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam