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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 have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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 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.
  • chikooeze400@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?John=20Moses?= <john.moses16@yahoo.in>
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 05:43:26 +0530 (IST)
Subject: contact him immediately


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: john.moses16@yahoo.in



- - Dear Friend,Longest time,I hope all is well together with your family,if so glory be to God almighty. Well,Sorry to hear this news and understand that the fault is not from me. I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under thecooperation of a new partner from Japan. Presently I'm in Japan for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile,I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me intransferring this funds despite that it failed us some how. Now contactmy secretary (Chikoo Eze) in Benin on e-mail address (chikooeze400@hotmail.fr) Ask him to send you the total Amount of $1,250,000.00 u.s dollars which I kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in touch with my secretary and instruct him where to send the cheque as you know it was issued in a certfied bank draft chequewhich you w!
ill cash in any bank approved or owned by government of any country. Please do let me know immediately if you cash the money so that we can share the joy together after all the sufferness at that time. Right now,I am very busy here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at hand.I did it simple to show you that i did not forget you. Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the secretary on your behalf to send the draft cheque to you immediately, so feel free to get in touch with Mr.Chikoo, he will send the money immediately to you without any delay. Thank you and congratulations as God has done it.Best Regards, MR,JOHN MOSES

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam