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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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cheque " (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.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • os2008@mailbox.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ofile0312 Gazeta.pl" <ofile0312@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:35:46 +0200
Subject: E-mail him now for your cheque


Dear friend.

Compliment ,i'm happy to inform you about my success in getting the funds
transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from China. Presently
I'm in Beljin for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.
Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how.

Now contact my secretary who is corrently in Benin, Mr.Osita Emmanuel
(Email: os2008@mailbox.co.za ) ask him to send you what i 've kept for your
help, It's $1,700.000.00MUSD Bank Cheque which I kept for your compensation
for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. Feel
free and get in touched with my personal secretary andinstruct him where to
send the Cheque to you.

Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the
joy after the hard time. Finally,remember that I had forwarded instruction
to my secretary on your behalf to receive your cheque, also do forward a
copy of this message to him for reconfirmations.

Best Regards,
Barrister Ike Ikech.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam