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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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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.)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22993203422 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • joe_wallace12@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: barryokafor@freenet.de
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:49:18 +0200
Subject: GOOD NEWS





My dear friend

How are you together with your family I hope that
all is well if so glory be to God amen.
It\'s been long I heard from
you. 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.


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. Million in a Bank Draft of (one million Thousand
United States Dollars). This is from my own share. I did this simply to
show you that it is good to do good things to the right people always.
Presently, I am in Paraguay for investment project with my own share
under the advice of my partner.

Meanwhile, I didn\'t forget your past
efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds despite
that it failed us somehow. I will be sending you e-mail from time to
time to know if you have received your share or not. Now contact my
personal assistant secretary in Benin.
Here is my personal assistant
secretary contact in Benin contact him urgent for him to send the Bank
Draft to you immediately.

Bellow Is information to contact him,
Name
__Mr Joe Wallace
Telephone__ +229 93203422
Email___ (
joe_wallace12@yahoo.co.uk)
I look forwards to hear from you soonest as
you have get in touch with him ok.
Best Regards
Barrister William
Rich

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam