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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
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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:
  • "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. )
  • "certified bank draft" (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.
  • georgepeter1133@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "jesse helms" <jesse10helms@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:14:11 +0100
Subject: Dear friend,Contact my secretary


Goodday my friend,
I hope all is well together with your family ,if so glory be to God
almighty.Well,I successed in getting those funds transferred under the
cooperation of a new partner from Japan.Presently I'm in Japan for
investment projects.Mean while , I didn't forget your past efforts and
attempts to assist me.Now contact my secretary GEORGE PETER on Emai:
georgepeter1133@yahoo.com,
Tel : 0022998285715.
Ask him to send you the draft i left for you in his care, I have raised and
signed an International Cashier's Bank Draft, to the sum of 950,000.00 Euro
(NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND EURO) only in your name as your own
COMPENSATION for your dedication, humanity and contribution, as it were.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 or inform
the bank to transfer the money directly into your bank account, The draft
is issued in a certified bank draft cheque which you can cash in any bank
approved or owned by government of any country.
Please do let me know immediately you receive the money so that we can share
the joy together after all the suffering 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.
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 PETER, and tell him to send the draft immediately to you without
any delay.its as a token from my heart.
Thank you and congratulations as God has done it.
Best Regards,
DR JESSE HELMS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam