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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  • +22993420123 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:19:37 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Hello my good friend,


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:johnson.ben06@yahoo.com.co



- Hello my good friend, Compliments of the season and God's blessings from Johnson Ben I am the Barrister who contacted you long ago, I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund transferred, Now I want you to contact my secretary on the information below. NAME: Joseph Rober PHONE:+229 93420123 EMAIL: (joseph_robert@live.ca) I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $1,5m cashier cheque which I left to my secretary on your behalf. Ask him to send you the total of ($1,5m)USD Cashier's Cheque, which I kept for your compensation contact him on his email or His direct telephone 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. Joseph's directives so that he will send the cheque to you Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the sufferies at that time. In the moment,I am very busy here in Germany because of the investment projects me and my new partners are having at hand. Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number/your current mailing address where you want him to send the money to you. Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hoping to hear from you. Barrister Johnson Ben

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam