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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:
  • "million dollars" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22993809518 (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.
  • evangelistf@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "EVANGELIST FELIX" <evangelistfelix012@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: evangelistf@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 06:03:34 +0100
Subject: Thank you and May God bless you.


Beloved.

I am Evangelist Felix Hodonou,of Faith Ministry Cotonou Benin Republic.
However i got your contact through International Directory.

A member of my church has been addmitted in the Hospital for Cancer/Stroke
since August 27th 2007, Mrs Comfort Whisky From Sierra Leone, and she has
asked me to assist her make a search for a reliable and honest person who
will stand as her appointed new beneficiary to her FUNDS which her late
Husband deposited in a Finance Firm $4.5 Million Dollars, since according to
the Doctors she may not survive.

Although her wish is that the money should be use for humanitarian and
charity service by distributing the money to the motherless homes in your
country, and sick people in the hospitals/less privilege people that needs
help encase she did not survive.

In her words 40% will be set aside for your assistance, 60% for the
project.
I need you to confirm to me your ability to handle this opportunity with
total sincerity in your return mail at evangelistf@yahoo.com and aswell
attach to me your details as stated below.
1.Your Full Names
2.Your Age/ Sex
3.Your Marital Status
4.Your Occupation
5.Your Mobile Numbers
Yours faithfully,

Reply to evangelistf@yahoo.com
Evangelist Felix Hodonou
+229-93-80-95-18

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam