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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:

• 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:
  • "huge sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • georgebenneth@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "George Benneth" <georgeben01@msn.com>
Reply-To: georgebenneth@sify.com
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2006 08:32:47 +0000
Subject: urgent

FROM: MR.GEORGE BENNETH
ACCOUNTANT, UBN
LAGOS - NIGERIA
EMAIL:georgebenneth@sify.com
TEL/FAX: 234-09-2721973

Dear Friend,

First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue
if its nature as being utterly CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I know
that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and
worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the
day.We have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction,
as we have been reliably informed of your discreteness and ability in
transactions of this nature.

Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you. I am Mr.George
Benneth an Accountant with the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. Lagos, I came to
know of you in my private search for a reliable and Reputable person to
handle this confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge
sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence.

THE PROPOSITION:

A foreigner, Late Engineer Walter Tang Min, an Oil Merchant/Contractor with
the Federal Government of Nigeria, until his death five years ago in a
ghastly air crash, banked with us here at Union Bank Plc. Lagos, and had a
closing balance of US$13.5M (Thirteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars)which the bank now unquestionably expectsit to be claimed by
any available foreign next-of-kin of the Late beneficiary or alternatively
be donated to a discredited trust fund for arms and Ammunition at a military
war college here in Nigeria.

Fervent valuable efforts are being made by the Union Bank to get in touch
with any of the Min's family or relatives but proved to avail. It is because
of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of Late Engr.
Walter Tang Min next-of-kin (he had no known wife and children) that the
management under the influence of our chairman and member of the board of
rectors, retired Major General Kalu Uke Kalu, that an arrangement be made
for the funds to be declared "UNCLAIMABLE"and subsequently be donated to the
Trust Fund for Arms and Ammunition to further enhance the course of war in
Africa and the world in general.

In order to avert this negative development, so of my trusted colleagues and
I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next-of-kin to Late Engr.
Walter Tang Min so that the funds US$13.5M would be released and paid into
your bank account as the beneficiary next-of-kin. All documents and proves
to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out and more so we are
assuring you of a 100% risk free involvement.

Your share stays while the rest would be for my colleagues, and myself
Investment purposes in your country. We have agreed that, the funds will be
shared thus, after it has been transferred into your account 1. 30% of the
money will go to you for acting as the beneficiary of the
funds. 2. 10% will be set aside for reimbursement to both parties for any
incidental expenses that may be incurred in the course of the transfer.3.
60% to us the originators of the transaction.

If this proposal is OK by you and you do not wish to take undue advantage of
the trust, we hope to bestow on you and your company, then kindly get to me
immediately via my private Email:georgebenneth@sify.com )) for security
reason.

Furnishing me with your most confidential telephone, fax number and
exclusive bank particulars so that I can use this information to apply for
the release and subsequent transfer of the funds in your favor.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

Mr.George Benneth.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam