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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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.
  • jessywilliam27@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "joneswilliams Gazeta.pl" <joneswilliams@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: jessywilliam27@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 21:56:04 +0100
Subject: Dear Beloved,


*From The Desk Of Mr. William Jones
financial Resource Consultant.
Benin-Cotonou*


*Dear Beloved, *

* *

*I am a financial consultant based in Cotonou Benin. I have a client (a
widow) she has TEN MILLION POUNDS (£10,000,000) with a private equity
investment trust
company for safe keeping only.
She wishes to invest in a stable economy . *

*Her interest is in companies with potentials for rapid growth in long
terms. My client is interested in placing part of her fund in your
company,if your country's bi-laws allows foreign investment. *

*You can contact me for more details via my private e-mail address **
jessywilliam27@yahoo.com* <jessywilliam27@yahoo.com>* with your reference
for more informations as well. *

* *

*Yours faithfully,
Mr. William Jones*

*

*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam