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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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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "remmitance department" (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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "remmitance department" (this email uses bad English)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin 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.
  • bamoses11@yahoo.com.au (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Moses Baba" <bamoses003@gala.net>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 15:58:46 +0400
Subject: How was your day


*From Mr Baba Moses*
*Auditing and Accounting Unit
Foreign Operations Department
Credit Bank,Bur Dubai Branch,
United Arab Emirates U.A.E.*
*USE THIS EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THE REPLY:* bamoses11@yahoo.com.au
**
**
*ATTENTION:,*
**
*I'm the Auditor in charge of Foreign Remmitance Department of Credit Bank
Bur Dubai Branch, in the Commercial city United Arab Emirates U.A.E.*
*This is a very confidential proposition for you.On July 21st 2003,an
Importer of Textiles and Automobiles for the past Thirteen years,Mr.Robbert
Stone made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar
months,valued at Ten million two hundred thousand United States Dollars
(US$16.2 Million us dollars) in my branch.*
**
*Upon maturity on July 20th 2004 as his Credit Officer,I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. **After a month,we
sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his employees,that Mr.Robbert
Stone was one of the passengers who died with his entire family in the
ill-fated plane crash involving a UTA boeing 727 Chartered Flight that took
off from Cotonou Benin Republic and crashed into Atlantic Ocean on thursday
25th december 2003.*
**
*For further details of the Plane Crash,Please Visit*
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm*<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm>
* Further investigations,and all attempts to trace his next of kin was
fruitless.*
**
*Again,I made further investigation and discovered that Mr.HARWOOD BRETT
did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official
documents,including his Bank Deposit paper work in my Bank.*
**
*This sum of Sixten million two hundred thousand United States Dollars
(US$16.2 Million USD) is still sitting in my Bank no one will ever come
forward to claim it. **According to the International Banking ethics,codes
and Laws,at the expiration of four (4) years,the money will revert to the
ownership of the Benin Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.*
*Consequently,my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand
in as the next of kin to Mr.Robbert Stone .*
**
*This is simple,I will like you to respond immediately with your full names
and contact informations so as I will send to you a specimen copy of an
application form which you will refill and send to the bank putting claim
over the said balance with the bank as the bonafide next of kin to the
deceased.*
**
*The money will be paid into your Personal Account for us to share in the
ratio of 45% for both of us while 10% will be set aside for any expenses
that may arise in the process of transfering this fund into your
choosen/nominated bank account you wish to receive it.*
**
*Upon your response,I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
informations. *
*Please send to me your confidential telephone(s) for easy
communication,oral discussion and more directives on what next to do.*
**
*You should observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my share in your country which you will be the
arrow head of the investment.*
**
*I must not fail to tell you that this transaction is totally risk free and
legitimate.*
*Awaiting your urgent respond.*
**
*Thanks,*
**
*Mr.Baba Moses*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam