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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
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. 
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
 
 
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
 -  This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.  
-  The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
 -  "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
 
-  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. 
 -  leotorch72@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
 
Fraud email example:
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From: =?UTF-8?B?RHIuUGF1bMKgRG9u?= <morganmrschinyere@gmail.com>Reply-To: leotorch72@yahoo.com
 Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2023 23:24:42 -0700
 Subject: Your fund
 
 Dear Friend,
 
 I did not forgot your past effort by trying to help me, now I want to
 tell you that I have succeeded in getting those funds transferred
 under the cooperation of a new partner from Hong Kong. Contact my
 secretary in Cotonou De federal Republic of Benin because I have left
 the whole instruction to him on your behalf and instruct him where to
 send the US$1.300.000.00 without any further delay for your
 compensation.Remember that the $1.300.000.00 is in draft, not cash, so
 you need to send to him your full Information where the draft/check
 will be posted/delivered.I appreciated your efforts at that time very
 much. So feel free to get in touched with my secretary Leo Torch with
 this Email:leotorch72@yahoo.com
 
  NB:NOTE :BELLOW IS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION YOU WILL SEND TO MY SECRETARY :
 
 (1) YOUR FULL NAMES.........
 (2) YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS............
 (3) YOUR CITY................
 (4)YOUR COUNTRY..........................
 (5) Your occupation.......................
 (6) YOUR DIRECT CELLPHONE NUMBER AND HOUSE PHONE
 
 Regards Dr.Paul Don
 
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