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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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin 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.
  • +22993693668 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: frank udoeze <barr_frank_udoeze35@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <barr_frank_udoeze1@yahoo.pl>
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:36:49 +0200
Subject: From: Barr Frank Udoeze



From: Barr Frank UdoezeManager Credit and Foriegn Bills Regent Bank Plc Akpakpa Dume,Cotonou-Benin Republic. E-mail: (barr_frank_udoeze1@yaahoo.pl)
Attention: Sir/Madam,
My name is Barr Frank Udoeze, the Manager, Credit and Foreign bills of Regent Bank Plc. I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of our bank with account number 14-255-114 whose name is Late Mr. Morris Thompson, an American by Citizen who perished in a plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter. You shall read more about the crash on visiting this site which I got during my investigation; http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list Since the demise of this our customer,
I personally has watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of US$15.5M (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which has been with our branch for a very long time. On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the Next of Kin as no one has come up to be the next of kin. And the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than Ten Years, because the money will be recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed fund after this period. In view of this I got your contact when making a research on a foreigner customer
I will use this great opportunity.and for your assistant i will give you 30% of the total amount then 10% has been maped out to donate to the motherless baby home, while the remaining 60% will be for me and my partner. Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by fax or e-mail the letter of application which you will type sign and send back to our bank to enable us start this transaction. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for the smooth and easy transfer of this fund has been finalized,
This transaction will be completed within five banking days of recieving your response, after you apply to the bank as a relation to the deceased. When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your decision including your private informations such as below1, Your Full name and your home address 2,Your Mobile Tel/Fax numbers 3,Your Passport picture or ID4, Your Occupation5, Your marital status
I wait for your quick communication through my private Email (barr_frank_udoeze1@yaahoo.pl) or you can reach me on my direct telephone number +229-936-93668
Yours Sincerely,
Barr Frank UdoezeManager Credit and Foriegn Bills Regent Bank Plc.
Cotonou Rep Of Benin.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam