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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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  • hillaryodinaka222@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: johnben@freenet.de
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:39:03 +0100
Subject: Contact my secretary for your compensation


Dear Friend,
It is my pleasure to let you know about my success in
getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner
from Greece. I didn\'t forget your past efforts to assist me in
transferring those funds.
Now contact my secretary in Cotonou Benin de
Republic:
NAME:Hillary Odinaka
EMAIL: hillaryodinaka222@yahoo.it
LEGAL
PRACTITIONER &
PUBLIC NOTARY REPRESENTATIVE,
SUITE 105 MDOMI
PLAZA,
LOM-NAVA,AKPAKPA COTONOU BENIN DE REPUBLIC.
Ask him to send you
the total $1.5million certified bank draft which I raise for your
compensation .So feel free and get in touched with her and give her
your address where to send you your bank draft.
HERE IS THE
INFORMATIONS,YOU WILL GIVE HIM TO ENABLE HIM TO SEND YOU
YOUR BANK
DRAFT:
1.YOUR FULL NAME.................
2.YOUR HOME OR OFFICE ADDRESS
WHERE YOU WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR BANK
DRAFT....................
3.YOUR
PHONE NUMBER......................................
Again, Let me know
immediately you receive it for us to share the joy.

I\'m very busy
here with my investment projects which I am having at hand.Finally, I
left instruction to the secretary on your behalf, so feel free to get in
touch with him.
Best regards,
Kenneth Okwudili

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam