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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "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. )
  • "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.
  • georgepeter1144@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <jamesobis@centrum.cz>
Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:57:36 +0200
Subject: GOODDAY MY FRIEND,TREAT AS URGENT



My Dear friend=C2=A0 ,
Longest time , I hope all is well together with your family ,if so glory =
be to God almighty.Well.I'm happy to inform you about my success in getti=
ng those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Ja=
pan.
Presently I'm in Japan for investment projects with my own share of the t=
otal sum. Mean while , I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to =
assist me in transferring this funds despite that it failed us some how. =
Now contact my secretary GEORGE PETER on Emai: georgepeter1144@yahoo.com,
Tel : 0022998285715.
Ask him to send you the draft i left for you in his care, I have raised a=
nd signed an International Cashier's Bank Draft, to the sum ofUSD$950,000=
.00 (NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) only in your =
name as your own COMPENSATION for your dedication, humanity and contribut=
ion, as it were.=20
I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get i=
n touch with mysecretary and instruct him where to send the cheque as you=
know it was issued in a certified bank draft cheque which you can cash i=
n any bank approved or owned by government of any country.
Please do let me know immediately=C2=A0 you cash the money so that we can=
share the joy together after all the suffering at that time. Right now, =
I am very busy here because of the investment projects which me and the n=
ew partner are having at hand.
Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the secretary on y=
our behalf to send the draft / cheque to you immediately,so feel free to =
get in touch with David, he will send the draft immediately to you withou=
t any delay.its as a token from my heart.
Thank you and congratulations as God has done it.
Best Regards,
MR JAMES OBI

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam