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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)
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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  • +22993856023 (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.
  • barr.thomasadams@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Thomas Adams <info.thomasadams@amail.webinter.pl>
Reply-To: barr.thomasadams@hotmail.fr
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 11:37:02 +0200
Subject: ATTENTION: Urgent Fund Transfer!!



FROM BARRISTER THOMAS ADAMS.
Head, Adams-Thomas Legal House Firm,
St. Jean Quartier des Elites,
Cotonou-Benin Republic.
Private Email: barr.thomasadams@hotmail.fr [1]
Direct Tel: +229 93 856 023.
Attn: Please,

I am Barrister Thomas Adams, A private Attorney to Late Anders
Kersten, A National of your Country, who used to work as the Director
of Société Nationalle de Commercialisation Des Produits
Pétroliers (SONACOP) Oil Company in Cotonou, Benin Republic
West Africa, Here in after shall be referred to as my Client.

On November 20th, 2004, my Client, His wife and their three Children
were involved in a car accident at Cotonou-Abomey Express-Road. All
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I
have made several enquiries to your embassey to locate any of my
Client's extended Relatives but all efforts proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his
last name over the
Internet to locate any of his Family's member hence
I contacted you . I have contacted you to assist in Repatrating his
funds valued One Million Three Hundred And Fifty Thousand United
States Dollars (Us $1.3m) left behind by my late client before they
get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Continental Bank
Cotonou Republic of Benin where this huge amount were deposited.

The Bank has issued me a notice to provide his relative or have the
account confiscated, Since I have been unsuccessful in Locating the
relatives for over three years. For the fact that I have been
unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 3 years now, I seek
the consent to present you as the rightful next of kin to my late
client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you and
then you and me can Share the money 70% to me and 30% to you.

I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back
you up for claim, all I require from you is your honest cooperation
to
enable us see this transaction through, I guarantee that this will be
executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law.

Call me immediately you receive this mail on +229 93 856 023.

Also get back to me with the following informations for proper
Identifications.

1) Your Full Name and Address,

2) Your Age, Occupation and Position,

3) Your Telephone Mobile and Fax Number for Communication Purpose.

Kindly call me as soon as you respond to me in my PrivateEmail:
barr.thomasadams@hotmail.fr [1]

Yours Sincerely,
Barrister Thomas Adams.
Private Tel: +229 93 856 023.



Links:
------
[1] mailto:barr.thomasadams@hotmail.fr

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam