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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:

• 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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • +22997011587 (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.
  • mrjamesdossou@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • infopayingcenterbj@gawab.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: bofpaycenterbj@live.fr
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:30:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject:


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: mrjamesdossou@yahoo.com



- Dear Friend, I am happy to inform you about my success in getting the funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Paraguay. Presently I am in Paraguay for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring the funds despite that it failed us somehow. In appreciation of your assistance I have mapped out as compensation and wrote on your favor a bank draft of (One Million Euro) I left the draft with my secretary on my departure to Paraguay. Now contact my secretary Mr Ugwu Augustine, email: infopayingcenterbj@gawab.com Tel: 00229 97011587ask her to send you the total sum (One Million Euro) which I kept for your compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. Best regards, James Dossou.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam