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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• 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)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22997813257 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • williamslawsons99@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3awilliamslawsons99@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "obi anorobi" <obianorobi3@hosanna.net>
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:43:05 +0200
Subject: HELLO MY DEAR FRIEND,


HELLO MY DEAR FRIEND,

I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE FUNDS TRANSFERRED
UNDER THE COOPERATION OF A NEW PARTNER FROM CANADA.

PRESENTLY I'M IN CANADA FOR INVESTMENT PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE OF THE
TOTAL SUM OF $18M. MEANWHILE,I DIDN'T FORGET YOUR PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS
TO ASSIST ME IN TRANSFERRING THOSE FUNDS DESPITE THAT IT FAILED US SOME
HOW.NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN BENIN.

NAME:WILLIAMS LAWSONS
PHONE:+229-97-813257
EMAIL:williamslawsons99@yahoo.fr <EMAIL%3Awilliamslawsons99@yahoo.fr>
LEGAL PRACTITIONER & PUBLIC NOTARY
REPRESENTATIVE,
SUITE 205 MDOMI PLAZA,
AKPAKPA COTONOU BENIN.

ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL OF $3.2 MILLION WHICH I KEPT FOR YOUR
COMPENSATION FOR ALL THE PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN THIS
MATTER. I APPRECIATED YOUR EFFORTS AT THAT TIME VERY MUCH.SOFEEL FREE AND
GET IN TOUCHED WITH MY SECRETARY WILLIAM LAWSON AND INSTRUCT HIM WHERE TO
SEND THE AMOUNT TO YOU.

PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE IT SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THE
JOY AFTER ALL THE SUFFERNESS AT THAT TIME. IN THE MOMENT, IM VERY BUSY HERE
BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT PROJECTS WHICH ME AND THE NEW PARTNER ARE HAVING
AT HAND, FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT I HAD FORWARDED INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY
ON YOUR BEHALF TO RECEIVE THAT MONEY, SO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
WILLIAMS LAWSONS, HE WILL SEND THE AMOUNT TO YOU WITHOUT ANY DELAY.

BEST REGARDS,
MR.OBI ANOROBI.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam