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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
  (+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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin 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.
  • +22993082581 (Benin, probably a 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.
  • bengov@netcourrier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Br.Ben Bruce Ladih" <ben2associates@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:15:02 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Attn:Mr Anouk Terstegen. Please contact me urgently.


BARR. BEN BRUCE LADIH (ESQ)
BRUCE & ASSOCIATES,
C/323 JONQUET, Cotonou
Republic of Benin.
Phone: +229-93082581

Attn:Mr.Anouk Terstegen,

I am Dr Ben Bruce LADIH, private attorney to Mr.Allnoch Terstegen hereinafter referred to as representative/executioner who bears the same last name with you, and a national of your Country, hereinafter referred to as the Testator.

On the 18th of February 2002, your relative who used to work with MANDILAS OILFIELD SERVICES LTD in Republic of Benin left a WILL for the family to be executed after 3 years of his death to his family hereinafter referred to as Beneficiaries.

The testator () my client, his wife and their three children (beneficiaries) were involved in a car accident on Sunday 3rd August 2003 along Rue de Port-Novo, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives, leaving the Estate open to be inherited by any member of the extended relatives according to the law.

Since then I have made several enquiries through your Embassy for over nine (9) Months now after the expiration of the WILL execution time to locate any of the extended relatives according to the law to deliver the estate to them, this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family thus my contact to you.
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same surname with the deceased so that the proceeds of this Estate deposited with VITAL INVESTMENT AND FINACE BANK account NOS.001010511872-79 valued at US$10.8M can be paid to you and then you and me can Share the money 25% to me and 75% to you and your family as the Beneficiary.

The Bank has issued me a notice according to the bank statutory regulations to provide the next of kin (Beneficiaries) or have the Estate confiscated as the fund unclaimed to the government in line with the 1999 bank and finance acts.

I have all necessary legal documents to back up the claim on the Estate, all I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law as everything will be handled legally.

You can call me on +229-93082581 or write to my private email
bengov@netcourrier.com for the contact and procedures of the claim to be paid to you.
Note that I need your full name, present contact address (not P.O BOX), direct telephone & fax number in return mail.

Reply urgently,

Dr Ben Bruce Ladih esq
Attorney at Law

BRUCE & ASSOCIATES,
C/323 JONQUET, Cotonou
Republic of Benin.
Phone: +229-93082581
Email:bengov@netcourrier.com


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http://cn.mail.yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam