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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)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993028861 (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.
  • mardenis02@yahoo.dk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "DOUGLAS ANTON" <antondouglasanton6@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 01:36:41 -0700
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR PAST EFFORT !!!!!!


Dear Friend,

It is my pleasure to reach you after our unsuccessful attempt on our
business transaction. Well, I just want to use this medium 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 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 Million two
hundered thousand 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 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.Mark Dennis, and do send
him your contact address where you want the draft to be sent to you. Stated
below is the contact information of my secretary:

Mr.Mark Dennis,
E-mail address: mardenis02@yahoo.dk
Tell...... +229 93 02 88 61
So feel free to get in touch with him to send the draft to you without any
delay ok.

With my best regards,
Dr.Douglas Anton,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam