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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +22993819374 (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.
  • godwinmark101@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "godwinamrk19 Gazeta.pl" <godwinamrk19@gazeta.pl>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 11:24:30 +0100
Subject: From Mr Godwin Mark.


*From Mr Godwin Mark.
Cotonou Benin Republic.*
*Reply and please call me+229-93819374.*
**
*
26 /05 / 2008.*
* *
**
*DEAR FRIEND, *
**
*I AM MR.GODWIN MARK, THE PRESENT BRANCH MANAGER OF A BANK HERE IN BENIN
REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA. With due respect and regard.I have decided to contact
you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at
the end of the transaction.*
**
*During our investigation and auditing in our bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person Mr. ANDREAS
SCHRANNER a German great industrialist and a resident of Munich, who
unfortunately lost his life along with his entire famillies in the plane
crash of CONCORDE AIRLINE [Flight AF4590 ] which crashed on 25TH JULY, 2000.
You shall read more news about the crash on visiting this site :*
**
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm*<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm>

*Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of his extended
family relatives, but all efforts proved abortive.I saw your contact from
the business directory in our chamber of commerce, trade and tourism, I
contact you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US 25.5 million
left behind before it gets confiscated or declared unclaimed by our Bank
where this huge amount was deposited.*
**
*Our Bank has issued a notice to provide his next of kin and since I have
been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over five year , I seek the
consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased deposited sum in
our Bank so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.*
**
*Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the
sharing ratio and modalities for the transfer. I have all necessary
information and legal documents needed to back you up for the claim which I
payed greatly to acquire. All I require from you is your honest and full
cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.I guarantee that this
attract no risk at all for it will be executed under legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.*
**
*On the receipt of your response via the above email address, I will furnish
you with a detailed clarification on this matter.Please if you are ready to
work with me i want you to indicate your interest by sending your full
contact informations such your personal phone number or office/fax,Your
occupation and your country of origin.You can reply me through this my
e-mail address.(**godwinmark101@sify.com* <godwinmark101@sify.com>*)*
**
**
*THANKS.
GODWIN MARK.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam