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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:
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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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "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.
  • charleskoku@rocketmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mark Anthony" <markanthoni1@torba.com>
Reply-To: markanthoni2@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 19:16:34 +0900
Subject: CONTACT HIM !!!


Dear Friend,

It is my pleasure to contact you once again after our unsuccessful attempt
on our business transaction. Well, I just want to use this medium to thank
you very much for your earlier assistance to help me in transfering the
funds without any positive outcome.I am obliged to inform you that I have
succeeded in receiving the funds with the help of a new partner from
Paraguay Mr.Fernando Alvaro Gomez.Everything was perfectly done because we
struck a deal with one of the Ladies Account who works with the Federal
Ministry of Finance here in (FMF), who rendered a tremendous help to us. My
new partner initiated this idea and everything worked out successfully. In
appreciation of your earlier assistance to me in receiving the funds, I
have decided to compensate you with the sum of (Nine Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) in certified bank Draft which can be collected at
any bank of your choice. This is from my own share. I did this simply to
show appreciation to you for your kind support and assistance even though
we could not succeed due to negative informatiom which you received at the
time about the transaction. Presently, I am in Paraguay for investment
projects with my own share on the advice of my partner.

Meanwhile, I didn´t forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring this fund despite the fact that we could not succeed. I will be
sending you e-mail from time to time to know if you have received your
compensation or not.In the light of the above, you are therefore, to
contact my personal Assistant, Mr.Charles Koku and do send him your Full
contact Detail where you want the Bank Draft to be sent to you. His e-mail
address is : (charleskoku@rocketmail.com) Please do let me know immediately
you receive it so that we can share the joy together after all the
suffering at that time. In the moment, I am very busy here in Ascuncion, the
capital city of Paraguay because of the investment projects, which the new
partner and I are having at hand. So feel free to get in touch with him to
send the Draft to you without any delay.

With My Best Regards,
Mr.Mark Anthony

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam