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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "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.
  • peterjohnsoncb@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN GOODLUCK" <johngoodluck11@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: johngoodluck@indamail.hu
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 17:33:18 +0200
Subject: Hello my good friend


Hello my good friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and family; you may not
understand why this mail came to you.

But if you do not remember me, you might have received an email from me in
regarding a multi-million-dollar proposal which we never concluded. I am
using this opportunity to inform you that the multi-million-dollar business
has been concluded with the assistance of another partner from Germany who
financed the transaction 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 into my new
partner's account in Germany, who was eventually, capable of assisting me in
this great venture. Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust
worthiness you showed during the course of the transaction.

I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of
$950.000.00.I have left a certified international bank draft for you worth
of $950.000.00 cashable everywhere in the world. My dear friend I will like
you to contact my Account Officer with Financial Bank Plc, Cotonou- Benin
Republic, his name is MR. PETER JOHNSON, on his direct e-mail address (
peterjohnsoncb@aim.com) for the collection of your certified Bank Draft.

I authorized him to release the Bank Draft to you whenever you contact him
regarding for it. At the moment, I'm very busy here because of the
investment projects, which I 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. PETER JOHNSON directives so that he
will send the draft to you with out any delay.

CONTACT: MR. PETER JOHNSON.
Account Officer, Financial Bank Plc,
Cotonou, Benin Republic,
Her e-mail address :( peterjohnsoncb@aim.com)

Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number/your
correct mailing address where you want him to send the Draft to you, or your
account information for depositing the Bank Draft.

Thanks and God bless you and your family.

Hoping to hear from you as soon as you cash your Bank Draft.

DR. JOHN GOODLUCK.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam