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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)
• Company names mentioned in 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • harryford001@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <shirleyharper@centrum.cz>
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2007 17:33:56 +0100
Subject: COMPENSATION CONTACT MY SECRETARY FOR YOUR DRAFT.


Dear Friend,
I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds
with the help of a new partner from South America Mr. Alfredo Gomez
Castillo. 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
$1,200,000.00(One MillionTwo Hundred United States Dollars) in a
Cashier's draft. This is from my own share. I did this simply to show
appreciation to you for your kind Support and assistance even though we
couldn't succeed due to some unforeseen circumstances.

Presently, I am in South Korea for investment
with my own share under the advice of my partner.
In the light of the above, you are therefore to contact my personal
secretary in Cotonou Benin Republic his name is Mr.Harry Ford 
and do send him your direct telephone number and contact address where
you want the draft to be sent to you. Stated below is the contact
information of my secretary:
Name   Mr.Harry Ford
E-mail address:  (harryford001@yahoo.com)

So feel free to get in touch with him to send the draft to you without
any delay ok.
With my best regards,
Mrs Shirley Harper     

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam