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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:
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • michealdavid3@yahoo.com
  • morgan_johnson4@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "michealdavid8 Gazeta.pl" <michealdavid8@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 21:10:25 +0200
Subject: MY DEAR


*CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN*
*TINUBU SQUARE,
REPUBLIC-BENIN.*
*FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT.*
**

*Dear, Sir/Madam,*

*NOTIFICATION OF US$10.5M PART PAYMENT*
**
*I am Micheal David,Director, Foreign operations dept Central bank of
Benin. My office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and
financial institutions in Benin **concerned with foreign claim payments.*
**
*I am the final signatory to any transfer of huge funds moving within
bank both on the local and international levels in line with foreign claim*
*settlement. *
**
*I have before me, list of funds which could not be transferred *
*to some nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified *
*either as unclaimed deposits or over-invoiced Sum etc.*
**
*Your Name was among the people expecting their funds to be transferred
On his note, I wish to have a deal with you as regards to your unpaid
funds.*
**
*I have your file before me and hope your datas are correct andun-tampered *
*unless you confirm.*
**
*As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the*
*Federal Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits,*
*I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received
from the*
*Foreign reconciliation dept to submit the List of payment reports/
expenditures *
*and audited reports of revenues.*
**
*At this juncture, I wish to inform you that your part payment of US$10.5M
has been approved through international certified band draft payable in our
*
*escrow account with our correspondence bank.*
**
*You are hereby adviced to recomfirm your contacts info and receiving
bank details to enable us send an immediate telex message to our*
*correspondence banker for the clearance of your approved fund to your *
*designated bank account.*
**
*This office will forward to you a copy of your certified bank draft as
soon as we hear from you for comfirmation through your local bank
reply back to me through my alternative email address If you AGREE
with my conditions. my email adress is
(**michealdavid3@yahoo.com<morgan_johnson4@yahoo.com>
**)*
**
*Best Regards,*
*Micheal David.
*
*DIRECTOR, FOREIGN*
*OPERATIONS DEPT*
*CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN*
*OVER DUE PAYMENT.*
**

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam