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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.

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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)
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "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)
  • "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +22993205586 (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.
  • oceanicbankplc43@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "SIMON JOE" <simonjoe4@ig.com.br>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 09:42:35 +0100
Subject: CONTACT ATM PAYMENT CENTRE


ATTN:DEAR FRIEND

WE GOT YOUR INFORMATION THROUGH MIKE BELLO,AND WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT
OF (US$1,200,000.00) ONE MILLION, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES
DOLLARS ONLY THROUGH SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER DEPT HERE IN OUR BANK, THIS
CARD CENTER WILL SEND YOU AN ATM CARD WHICH YOU WILL USE TO WITHDRAW YOUR
MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD,

BUT THE MAXIMUM IS ONE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS PER
DAY.SO IF YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND IN THIS WAY,PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY
CONTACTING OCEANIC BANK ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT AND ALSO SEND THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION AS LISTED BELOW.

1.FULL NAME
2.ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
3.PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
4.YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5.ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION

HOWEVER, KINDLY CONTACT THE BELOW PERSON WHO IS IN POSSITION TO RELEASE YOUR
ATM PAYMENT CARD.

REV DR. FRANKLIN CHINEDU,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
OCEANIC BANK BENIN.
MOBILE: +229-932-055-86
EMAIL: ( oceanicbankplc43@yahoo.fr)

THE ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTRE HAS BEEN MANDATED TO ISSUE OUT YOUR PAYMENT AND
YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMINUCATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON(S) OR
OFFICE(s) TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN RECEIVING YOUR PAYMENT.NOTE THAT BECAUSE
OF IMPOSTORS, WE HEREBY ISSUED YOU THE CODE OF CONDUCT, WHICH IS (ATM-0811)
SO YOU HAVE TO INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN CONTACTING THE ATM DEPT CENTER IN
THIS OCEANIC BANK BY USING IT AS YOUR SUBJECT.

REGARDS, MR SIMON JOE
COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam