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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:
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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 will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • colinu_smark2002@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: colinu_smark20@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:08:09 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Dear=20Friend=2C?=

Dear Friend,

Compliment of the season my freind i have successfuly get the money which
fail us some how before. It is my pleasure to reach you after our unsuccessful
attempt on our
business transaction. Well, I just want to use this medium of time to
thank you very much for your earlier assistance to help me in receiving
the funds.

I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds
with the help of a new partner from London Mr. Chris Rayner. Everything
was perfectly done on last three weeks friday 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 total amount of one million two hundred thousand USD($1.300,000.00
usd) in a certified international Cashier'scheque.

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 unforseen 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. colinu smark and do
send him your contact address where you want the cheque to be sent to
you,reach him via e -mail address (colinu_smark2002@yahoo.fr )
so feel free to get in touch with him to send the cheque to you without
any delay.
And also call him as soon as you receive this message in other to attend
to you immediately.

I will advice you to send him the following information's:
1,YOUR FULL NAME........................
2,YOUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS..............
3,YOUR PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER..........

With my best regards,

Micheal Haynes

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam