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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "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.
  • chiomanwa@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Okwuchukwu Ginifolu" <ginifoluokwy4@student.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 18:06:18 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend,


*Dear Friend,*

*It is my pleasure to let you know about my success in getting those
fund transffered under the cooperation of a new partner from Greece. I
didn't forget your past efforts to assist me in transffering those
funds.*

*Now contact my secretary MR.CHIOMA NWA his email is
(**chiomanwa@yahoo.fr*<http://fr.f230.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=chiomanwa@yahoo.fr>
*) ask him to send you the total $1.5M certified
bank draft which i raised for your compensation .So feel free and get
intouched with him and give him your address where to send the draft.Do 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 intouch with him.*

*Best regards,
Ginifolu Okwuchukwu
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam