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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "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 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.
  • mrs.rosamary_mba050@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Malik Iyatah <dr.malik_iyatah091014@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <mrs.rosamary_mba050@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:15:32 +0100
Subject: Contact Mrs.Rosemary Mba, For Your Cashier Cheque.



Dear Friend,

I crave your indulgence at this mail coming from somebody you have not known before but I believe I have been destined to be of blessing to you.I am Dr.Malik Iyatah, former director of Benin Cement Company.I am presently in Spain where I am under going treatment.

I want you to contact my secretary in Cotonou Benin Republic,is name: Mrs.Rosemary Mba,on her email address:(mrs.rosamary_mba050@yahoo.co.uk) Instruct her to send you the sum of ($950,000) Nine Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars in Cashier Cheque which I kept for you.

I cannot predict what will be my faith by the time you will receive the fund seeing that I am in a very critical condition here in the hospital that is why I ask you to assist me in your prayers.

Dr.Malik Iyatah.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam