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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:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "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 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.
  • +22993049567 (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.
  • mr.edwar_dmontoya@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Edward=20Montoya?= <edward.montoya12@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: mr.edwar_dmontoya@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 21:45:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR PAST EFFORTS.


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:edward.montoya12@yahoo.com.co



- My Dear Noble Friend,Well, I just want to use this medium to thank you very much for your earlier assistance to help me in receiving the inheritance funds, without any positive outcome. I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds with the help of a new partner from Hamburg - Germany.Contact my secretary in Republic Du Benin because I have left the whole instruction to him on your behalf and instruct him where to send the U.S.D$ 2.5,000.000.00 with out any further delay for your compensation. Please feel free to reach him immediately through his email or mobile number listed below for the quick release of your Cashier's Cheque. NAME:MR.EDWARD MONTOYA. COUNTRY: REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN.EMAIL:(mr.edwar_dmontoya@hotmail.com)Note: You are to send the following information to prove yourself to him as my business associate.Full Name:_________Address:___________Country:__________Age:_________Occupation:___________Phone Number:________Note that if you did not send the above information complete, he will not release the cheque to you because he has to be sure that it's you whom is to receive the funds.Ask him to send you the total sum of $2.5,000.000.00 Million US Dollars in Cashier's Cheque which i kept for you. In this moment, I'm very busy here in Hamburg-Germany because of the investment projects, which the new partner and I are having at hand.So, feel free to get in touch with Mr.Edward Montoya to send the Cashier's Cheque to you without further delay.You can call him any time +229-9304-9567.Thanks and God bless for your contributions.Barrister Aji Wille.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam