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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:
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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 us 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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
• 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.
  • mrshelenklein@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: pastorchrisbeto@freenet.de
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:33:25 +0200
Subject: MY BELOVE FRIEND PLEASE CONTACT MY FATHER IN THE LORD.


Hello My Dear,
How are you doing today? I believe you are doing very
well. I am compelled to contact you considering my present health
condition. I am Mrs Helen Klein from Philipines and i\'m married to Dr
Patrick Klein from Germany who worked as an oil prospecting consultant
in Cotonou for nine years before he died in the plane crash on
Friday,December 25th 2003 with (Beirut-bound charter jet) as you can
confirm through this
website
(http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html)
We
were married for eleven years without a child. Since his death I decided
not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the
Bible is against.When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of
($8 Million) Eight Million Us Dollars in a Bank in cotonou, Rep of
Benin. Presently, this money is still in the custody of the Bank in
cotonou, Repubilc of Benin.
Recently, I was told by my Doctor to stop
doing anything because of my health due to the cancer problem i am
suffering. Having known my condition I decided to look for a foreign
investor that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct
herein as my late husband already made the deposit to a foreign
associate fully indicated before the bank in Cotonou, Rep of Benin where
the fund was Deposited.
However,I want a Trust worthy,reliable and God
fearing person that will manage this fund till the next 5 years in any
profitable business of your choice in your country. Furthermore, I do
not need any telephone communication in this regard because of my
health hence the presence of my husband\'s relatives are always around
me. I do not want them to know about this development. In acceptance
the following requirements stated below are required:
1)Your Full Name
and Address
2)Your Marital Status
3)Your Occupation/Profession
4)Your
Direct Telephone/Fax Numbers
5)Your Bank Account Particulars where the
money will
be transffered into
As soon as i receive your reply I shall
give you the contact of the Bank in Cotonou and also the relevant
document\'s which was issued to my late husband at the day he deposited
the money.Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated
herein. Hoping to receive your response immedaitely. Please do reply
through the email address below.
EMAIL: mrshelenklein@sify.com
Thanks
and Remain blessed in the Lord.
I remain yours sincerely.
Mrs Helen
Klein.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam