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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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• What can you do when you receive 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:

• 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • zorrowilliams@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "charles obi" <c18b@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: zorrowilliams@myway.com
Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2006 02:25:10 +0100
Subject: CONTACT HIM NOW

Dear Friend,

It is my pleasure to reach you after our unsuccessful attempt on our
business transaction. Well, I just want to use this medium to thank you very
much for your earlier assistance to help me in receiving the funds, without
any positive outcome.
I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds with
the help of a new partner from Paraguay Mr. Fernando Alvaro Gomez.
Everything was perfectly done because we strike a deal with one of the Lady
Accountant who works with the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), and she
rendered a tremendous help to us. My new partner initiated this idea and
everything worked out successfully.
In appreciation of your earlier assistance to me in receiving the funds, I
have decided to compensate you with the sum of $850,000.00(Eight Hundred and
Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) in a Cashier's cheque. This is from my
own share. I did this simply to show appreciation to you for your kind
support and assistance even though we could not succeed due to some
unforseen circumstances and reason.
Presently, I am in Paraguay for investment project with my own share under
the advice of my partner. Mean while, I didn't forget your past efforts and
attempts to assist me in transferring this funds despite the fact that we
could not succeed. I will be sending you e-mail from time to time to know if
you have received your share or not.
In the light of the above, you are therefore, to contact my personal
assistant Mr. Zorro Williams on my former telephone line and do send him
your contact address where you want the cheque to be sent to you. His e-mail
address: zorrowilliams@myway.com
Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the
joy together after all the suffering at that time. In the moment, I am very
busy here in Asuncion the capital city of Paraguay because of the investment
projects, which the new partner and I are having at hand. So feel free to
get in touch with him to send the cheque to you without any delay.

With My Best Regards,

Barrister Charles Obi.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam