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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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 "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.
  • +22998938141 (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.
  • amhed.koffi@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Amhed Koffi <amhed.koffi@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: amhed11@walla.com
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 03:34:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Compliments of the season


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: amhed.koffi@yahoo.com



- Dear friend,Compliments of the season and God's blessings. I am glad to inform you that I have successfully transferred the funds under the co-operation of a new partner from Paraguay.And presently am in Paraguay for some investment projects and medical check up with my own share of the total sum. As you should understand that during the period of processing the transfer that my health situation was very poor. Meanwhile, I did not forget all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring the funds despite that it failed us some how along the way. Now I will like you to contact my secretary who is right now in Cotonou Republic of Benin, His name is Shade Kovo His email: shade_kovo@live.fr Telephone +229 98 93 81 41 And ask him to send you the total sum of $800,000,00 cheque which I kept for you, for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter as I am a very strong and born again christian and will never easily forget all your passt efforts to assist no matter that i was not able to get it conclude with you. I appreciated all your efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in touched with my secretary SHADE KOVO and instruct him where to send the money 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 because of the investment projects and my health which me and my new partners are having at hand. Finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to my secretary on your behalf in respect to that matter as well, So feel free to get in touch with him in respect to that so that he will send the amount to you without any delay Yours faithfully.Mr. Koffi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam