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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22993110126 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "ks.mith23 Gazeta.pl" <ks.mith23@gazeta.pl>
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:19:04 +0100
Subject: ACCEPT THESE FROM ME !!!


*My Dear Friend,*

*Complement of the season,*
*This is to thank you for your effort. I understand that your hands were
tied due to one reason or the other. Not to worry. I have succeeded; the
money has been transferred into the account provided by a newly found friend
of mine in Australia.*
**
*I want to compensate you for your past assistance and commitments, I have
dropped an International Certified Bank Draft of $1.2m for you.**I am in
London with my family presently. I do intend to establish some business
here, and possibly buy some properties and I will still want to invest in
your country too.*

*I am compensating you because I received a call from my pastor who was
praying for me during the transaction, he said I should compensate you for
your past effort.*
**
*Contact my account officer in Benin Republic, Mr.Carlson Larson, his email
is (c_larson@live.fr**) Tel/(+229-93-11-01-26) and remember to forward my
mail to him,And give him your information as stated below, then ask him to
send the bank draft to you.*
**
*FULL NAME=============*
*ADDRESS================
AGE====================
COUNTRY================
PHONE NUMBER===========*
**
*Take good care of your self,and do not fail to farward my mail with your
full info to him to enable him not to delay the draft.*
*
Regards,
Smith Koffi James
***

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam