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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 like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • dmd_elliot10@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: William Huge <williamhuge@easymail.hu>
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:01:19 +0200
Subject: Thanks and God bless you and your family.


My good friend.
 
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. You may not understand why this mail came to you. But if you do not remember me, you might have receive an email from me in the past regarding a multi-million-dollar business proposal which we never concluded.
 
I am using this opportunity to inform you that this multi-million-dollar business has been concluded with another person who financed it to a logical conclusion. I thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the other best known to you.
 But I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out of my bank to my new partner's account in London that was capable of assisting me in this great venture.
 Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthness you showed during the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $1.5million dollar. I have left in courier company.
 My dear friend I will like you to contact my secretary Mr Desmond Elliot . for the collection of this money I have authorized to release the money to you as soon as you contact him regarding this issue.
 
At the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment projects which myself and the new partner are having at hand. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart. Also comply with Mr Desmond Elliot, so that HE will send the money to you without any delay.
 
CONTACT: Mr Desmond Elliot
ADDRESS: COTONOU.
EMAIL: dmd_elliot10@yahoo.fr  
 
Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number/your address where you want him to send the funds to you.
 
 
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon.
 
Mr.WILLIAM
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam