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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)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand us 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 "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.
  • +22998682930 (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.
  • usman333@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Goma Safiat" <safiatgo@nsk.biz>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 14:22:23 +0100
Subject: Contact my account officer for the release of your bank draft.


Hello my good friend.

How are you doing hope all is well with you, You may not understand why this
mail came to you, But if you do not remember me, you might have receive an
email from me in the past regarding a multi-million-dollar business 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
London 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. I want to
inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out of the bank to
my new partner's account in London that was 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 $700,000 I have left a certified
international bank draft for you worth of $700,000 cashable anywhere in the
world. Seven Hundred Thousand US Dollars only.

My dear friend I will like you to contact my Account Officer with Heritage
Bank in Benin Republic, Mr.Usman Isdore. on his direct email address at: (
usman333@sify.com) for the collection of your 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 my 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.Usman's directives so that he will send the draft to you
without any delay.

Note his full contact info below:

Name: Mr.Usman Isdore
Email address: (usman333@sify.com)
Address: Cotonou, Benin Republic
Tel: +229-98682930.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam