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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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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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. )
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22996556180 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Laurent Mafon <mafonlaurent84@live.com>
Reply-To: pastorsaga@ymail,com@smarthost.servers.netregistry.net
Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:05:06 +1000
Subject: compensation for your tireless efforts

>From Laurent Mafon
Cotonou Benin

I hope this message gets to you in good condition,

I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of my new partner from Asia.

Presently I'm in China investing with my new partner.I will be investing my money in projects with my own share of the total sum,and for now I really do not know what to invest on yet.

Before I left for Asia from the federal republic of Benin , I told my partner to keep an International Bank Draft of $1.3 Million usd with my family pastor on your behalf pending when you will contact the Pastor and give him or his wife instructions and your home address as to enable them send the cheque to you.

Contact the Pastor via their email pastorsaga@ymail.com Meanwhile,I can't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how but because you helped me , I can't fail to compensate you.

Now contact the Pastor via their email ;(pastorsaga@ymail.com / +229 96556180) and ask him of your Bank Draft that Barrister Laurent Mafon left for you and as well ask him to send it to your mailing address which you will provide for him.

I kept this compensation for your tireless efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I appreciated your efforts at that time very much because without you,this goal wouldn't have been achieved.

So feel free and get in touched with him to send you your cheque.

Best Regards and Kind Wishes and I trust you are in Good Health,

Barrister Laurent Mafon Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam