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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
  (+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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "insurance fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "hundred thousand united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "John Michael" <johnm1@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 02:50:04 +0100
Subject: Good News For You


Hello my good friend.

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family?, You may not
understand why this mail came to you. But if you do not remember me take
this gift from as your compensation, you might have receive an email from me
in the past regarding a business proposal which we never concluded. I am
using this opportunity to inform you that this business has been concluded
with the assistance of another partner from London who financed the
transaction to a logical conclusion. I thank you for your great effort to
our unfinished transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the
other best known to you. But I want to inform you that I have successfully
transferred the fund out of my bank to my new partner's account in London
that was capable of assisting me in this great venture.

Due to your past effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness You showed
during the course of the transaction. I want to compensate you and show my
gratitude to you with the sum of $1.200, 000, 00 One (Million Two Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars). I have left a certified international bank
cheque for you worth of $1.200, 000, 00. cash able anywhere in the world I
have paid for the delivery fee for your Draft Cheque. But the manager of
Africa Development Bank told me that before the check will get to your
destination it will expire. So I told him to cash $1,200,000.00, and he will
make all the necessary arrangement to deliver the $1.200, 000, 00, to you in
cash with LINUX COURIER EXTENSION GHANA.

Be inform that there are some documents to be secured, The only fee you have
to pay to them is $110 USD which will serve as the insurance fee and claims
of affidavit to enable them deliver the parcel to you immediately. Do
contact them and let me know when you receive your fund, below is their
contact information to enable them deliver your fund to you immediately.

Contact them with information below and your deposited code number is
LCE/679/08 .....
COMPANY NAME: LINUX COURIER EXTENSION GHANA
CONTACT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: MR. NANA ADDO
CONTACT EMAIL: linuxcourierextensionghana@voila.fr
TELEPHONE: 00233 246 143543

You have to forward the following information's to them:
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
3. YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:
4. CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS:

My dear friend I will like you to contact LINUX COURIER EXTENSION GHANA on
there information above for the delivery of your fund. at the moment, I'm
very busy here because of the investment projects, which I and the new
partner are having at hand. Please I will like you to accept this token with
good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart, Also comply with LINUX
COURIER EXTENSION GHANA directives so that t hey will send the money to you
without any delay.

Thanks and God bless you and your family.

Hoping to hear from you.

Mr. John Michael.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam