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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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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:

• 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)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (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 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.
  • +22997312310 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister William <rd.w.04@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barr_richard12@yahoo.es>
Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 10:01:19 -0600
Subject: FROM Barr. Richard williams.





FROM Barr. Richard williams.FIDELITY INTERNATIONALCOTONOU - CHANNEL ISLANDBENIN REPUBLICTEL +229-97312310

My Request
Compliments Of The Season,
I am Barr. Richard williams a Fund Manager with Fidelity Investment South African-Benin Republic Channel Island and I handle all our Investor’s capital Project Funds that enables me to divert 1.2 Percent Investors Excess Return Capital Funds to our Magellan Trust Funds Account whereby anyone can be presented to claim the funds. On this note, the total sum of $48.5 Million United States Dollars (Fourty Eight million Five hundred united states Dollars) has been diverted representing the 1.2 Percent Excess Return Capital Funds from the Investor Capital Project Funds for 2005/2006. I need a reliable and trustworthy person that can work this deal out with me so that we can claim the funds as mentioned above. There is no risk attached and the funds in question can never be dictated or traced. Our sharing ratio is 65:35. If you are interested, please reply and send your direct telephone numbers to me for a smooth discussion of this transaction in further details. May I assure you that this is safe and risk-free, as I have taken care of all necessary steps to ensure a hitch-free movement.
Sincerely,Barr Richard Williams.
Fidelity Investment South African-Benin Republic Channel Islandwww.fidelity-international.com


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam