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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Frank Obong" <frankobong2@klikni.cz>
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 00:24:20 -0700
Subject: Hello my dear friend


DESK OF BARRISTER FRANK OBONG .Esq .
OBONG CHAMBERS & ASSOCIATE .
COTONOU - BENIN REPUBLIC .
TEL : 00 229 977 840 05.



*Dear Friend ,

I apologize if the contents in this mail are contrary to your moral ethics,
which I feel may be of great disturbance to your personal life, But please
treat with absolute secrecy and personal, I pray that this email reaches you
in the best of health .

I am Barrister Frank Obong , the Personal Attorney to a Foreign Contractor,
who worked with a Multinational Oil Firm here in Cotonou Benin republic . On
the December 25, 2003 , my client Engr. G. F. a national of your country ,
an oil Merchant Contractor with the Federal Government of Benin, until his
death few years ago, He died along with his entire family of a wife and two
children in airplane Boeing 727 ghastly Air-Crash . With his entire family
were among the victims of December 25, 2003 Air-Crash. For more about the
Air Crash you can visit the CNN web news for the tragedy , please check this
website : **http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/*<http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/>
*
Before his death, he had an account with the bank valued at Ten Million Five
Thousand US Dollars (USD 10.5 M).According to the Benin Law, at the
expiration of Three years if nobody applies to claim the funds a grace of
thirty (21) days will be given before the money will revert to the ownership
of the Benin government treasury department .

My proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next
of kin or Distant Cousin for us to claim this money, so that the fruits of
this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government
officials who will later use the money to sponsor war in Africa and kill
innocent citizens in the search for political power.

Please note that there will be no problem as the bank has made all effort
through to reach for any Relation but all was fruitless. My position as the
personal lawyer to the deceased i want to present you to the bank as the
beneficiary so that the fund $10.5 million .
This money will be shared on agreed percentage which must be written in the
agreement of personal trusteeship,once the funds is transferred to your
account in your country or anywhere else. Please call me on 00 229 900 521
29 for negotiation on our sharing ratio so that we will have a solid
arrangement when i come over to your country for the sharing .

All I require is your honest and co-operation to enable us see this deal
through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I will want
you to send to me on your return email the following information for the
transfer in your favour.

1, YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS .
2, OCCUPATION AND POSITION .
3, DATE OF BIRTH .
4, PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER .

If not interested please distroy the mail because of the confidentiality
attached to it.I promise that this transaction will be done under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect both of us from any breach of the
law.

I will appreciate you please give me a short call on 00 229 977 840 05
upon your receipt of this email so that i can properly explain to your
understand all this transaction entails .

I await your kind response, Good day and God bless.

Regards,

Barrister FRANK OBONG . (Esq.)
Direct Tel : 00 229 977 840 05 ** *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam