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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • john_okeoke@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:40:38 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?contact_my_secretary?=


Dear Friend,
I am Dr.PAUL UBAKA, and I am very happy to inform you about my
success in getting that fund transferred. Now I want you to contact my
secretary on his email address below and receive your compensation of $1.2m
from him:
NAME: John Okeoke
EMAIL: john_okeoke@yahoo.fr

Kindly reconfirm to him the following below information:
Your full name_________________________
Your address__________________________
Your country___________________________
Your age______________________________
Your occupation________________________
Your Phone number______________________
Note that if you did not send him the above information complete, he will
not release the cheque to you because he has to be sure that it is you.
Ask him to send you the total sum of ($1.2m )USD CASHIER'S CHEQUE ,which I
kept for you. Note also that I will not be reached by email or phone for
now because I am currently away in Japan for investment purpose with my
share and I will be busy till about six months time or a year.

Best regards,
Dr.PAUL UBAKA,



---------------------- ALICE N°1 de la RELATION CLIENT 2008*--------------------
Découvrez vite l'offre exclusive ALICE BOX! En cliquant ici http://abonnement.aliceadsl.fr Offre soumise à conditions.*Source : TNS SOFRES / BEARING POINT. Secteur Fournisseur d.Accès Internet

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam