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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:

• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22997985837 (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.
  • odafejames@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "otumba_dickson6 Gazeta.pl" <otumba_dickson6@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:19:50 +0200
Subject: UNITED NATION'S (UN) SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION PAYMENT.


BANK OF AFRICA (BOA) SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION PAYMENT.

SIR/MADAM,

SCAMMED VICTIM/ $1,200,000 BENEFICIARIES.
REF/PAYMENTS CODE: BOA/06654 $1,200,000 USD.

This is to bring to your notice that we are delegated from the UNITED
NATIONS in connection with Central Bank here through BANK OF AFRICA to pay
150 victims of scam $1,200,000 USD (One million two Hundred Thousand
Dollars) each. You are listed and approved for this payment as one of the
scammed victims to be paid this amount, get back to this office as soon as
possible for the immediate payments of your $1,200,000 USD compensations
funds.

Send a copy of your response to official email:

NAME: JAMES ODAFE.
SCAMMED VICTIM/REF/PAYMENTS CODE:
BOA/02354 $1,200,000 USD.
Email: odafejames@yahoo.fr
D/LINE : +229 979 858 37.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Otumba Dickson.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam