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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.

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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "my direct line" (i.e. "call me on my cellphone at the Internet cafe where we scammers hang out")
• This email message is a "Zimbabwe" 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.
  • +27737830560 (South Africa, 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.
  • paulson5benson@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr.Paulson Benson <paulsonbenson@aim.com>
Reply-To: paulson5benson@aim.com
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:59:46 +0200
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU U$15.000.000.00 TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT E


FROM:PAULSON BENSON
TEL:+27-73-7830-560
FAX:+27-11-507-6392

please reply via my private EMAIL= paulson5benson@aim.com

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

ATTN: MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL

I am Mr.PAULSON BENSON the elder son of late Mr.JAMES BENSON of Zimbawe. I got your contact address from the South African Chambers of Commerce and Industry please don't worry. During the current crises against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in my country,

he ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and their followers. My father was one of the biggest farmers in the country and although a black indegene, he did not support the President?s political ideology.Therefore, the president?s supporters invaded my father?s farm burnt down everything, killed him and confiscated all his investments. After the death of my father,my mother and I together with my younger brother decided to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of our lives.

On our departure from Zimbabwe,we took along with us some money which my father kept in the safe in my mother?s custody which amounted to the sum of US$15,000,000.00 (FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) to the Republic of South Africa where we have deposited it as personal valuables in a private security company and sought for political asylum. My mother has suggested and I agree that we have to further move out of the African continent to overseas for actual safety and to do reliable business investments.
Therefore we have decided that I should contact any reliable overseas person/firm/company who could assist us to transfer this money out of South Africa through a current investment account because as refugees we are not allowed to operate any account exceeding US$2,000(Two Thousand US Dollars).

So we need your help to come down to South Africa to open a bank account through which we can transfer this money to your country.If my proposal is considered,for assisting us to Transfer this money to your country, we unanimously agree to offer you 20% of the total fund,5% will be for any expenses that may be incuured during the transaction ,75% will be for me and my family to invest in your country under your assistance.

For detailed information, you can contact me on my direct line
TEL : +27-73-783-0560
FAX : +27-11-507-6392
or please reply via my private EMAIL= paulson5benson@aim.com

NOTE: PLEASE,FOR REASON OF OUR ASYLUM STATUS DO MAINTAIN ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY WHILE WE ALSO PROMISE TO DO SAME.

I ASSURE YOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100%RISKFREE.TIME IS OF ESSENCE.YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY

BEST REGARDS

PAULSON BENSON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam