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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22995147159 (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.
  • vitalfinancebankplc01@ommail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • vitalfinance_bankplc@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "smith walter" <smithwalter@klikni.cz>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 10:25:43 +0100
Subject: Dearest Attention Please, US$1.500.000.00 USD)


*Dearest Attention Please, *

*Its the pleasure of this office to inform you that your consignment
containing your fund(US$1.500.000.00 USD) has been deposited with Vital
Finance bank here in Benin because it has stayed more than necessary time
and i went to Vital Finance bank Plc to discuss this with the bank director
as its has not been delivered to you due to your failure to comply with our
instruction and failure to hear from you again, However he told me that your
fund can be transfered to you via a direct wire transfer(KTT) into your bank
account.*

*He told me to instruct you to contact the bank to apply for a direct wire
transfer into your account to avoid loosing your fund.Therefore you can
contact the bank with below information to enable the bank wire your fund
online into your account.*


*Director General Foreign Remittance,
Contact Person.Barrister Jerrico Boni
Email.(**vitalfinancebankplc01@ommail.com*<vitalfinancebankplc01@ommail.com>
*)
Email.(**vitalfinance_bankplc@yahoo.fr* <vitalfinance_bankplc@yahoo.fr>*)
Telephone Number,+229-95-14-71-59or0029-95-14-71-59
Payment director,Mr Ejike Nnamdi.
On attention of Barrister Jerrico Boni,Director foreign payment Vital
Finance bank Plc Benin Send an email to the bank with the above bank email
and apply for your wire transfer as i have informed the bank about you
already.On receipt of your fund into your account endeavour to inform me
immediately.*

*So this office is waiting to hear from you soonest you contact the bank for
further advise to ensure that your fund is been wired into your account
soonest,Your fund was deposited with Vital Finance bank Plc todays for
online transfer of your fund into your account.*

*Yours Faithfully
Mr.Smith Walter*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam