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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "remmitance department" (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)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "remmitance department" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • +22993646011 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Paul Amando" <paul1amando@yahoo.dk>
Reply-To: paul1amando@o2.pl
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 22:19:03 +0200
Subject: Mr Paul Amando


Mr Paul Amando
Auditing and Accounting Unit
Foreign Operations Department
Credit Bank,Cotonou Branch,
Republic of Benin.

My Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Paul Amando,The Auditor in charge of Foreign Remmitance Department
of Credit Bank Benin in the Commercial city of Cotonou,Benin Republic.

This is a very confidential proposition for you.On July 21st 2003,an
Importer of Textiles and Automobiles for the past Thirteen years,Mr. BRETT
HARWOOD made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar
months,valued at eighteen million seven hundred thousand United States
Dollars (US$18.7musd) in my branch.

Upon maturity on October 20th 2004 as his Credit Officer,I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.

After a month,we sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his
employees,that Mr.BRETT HARWOOD was one of the passengers who died with his
entire family in the ill-fated plane crash involving a UTA boeing 727
Chartered Flight that took off from Cotonou Benin Republic and crashed into
Atlantic Ocean on thursday 25th december 2003.

For further details of the Plane Crash,Please Visit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm Further investigations,and all
attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.

Again,I made further investigation and discovered that Mr.BRETT HARWOOD did
not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official
documents,including his Bank Deposit paper work in my Bank.

This sum of eighteen million seven hundred thousand United States Dollars
(US$18.7 million USD) is still sitting in my Bank no one will ever come
forward to claim it.

According to the International Banking ethics,codes and Laws,at the
expiration of five (5) years,the money will revert to the ownership of the
Benin Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently,my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in
as the next of kin to Mr.BRETT HARWOOD.

This is simple,I will like you to respond immediately with your full names
and contact informations so as I will send to you a specimen copy of an
application form which you will refill and send to the bank putting claim
over the said balance with the bank as the bonafide next of kin to the
deceased.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 45%
for me and 45% for you, while 5% will be set aside for any expenses that may
arise in the process of transfering this fund into your choosen/nominated
bank account you wish to receive it, and 5% to the motherless and the needy
in your country.

Upon your response,I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
informations.

Please send to me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy
communication,oral discussion and more directives on what next to do.

You should observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my share in your country which you will be the
arrow head of the investment.

I must not fail to tell you that this transaction is totally risk free and
legitimate.

Awaiting your urgent reply.

Thanks and GOD bless

Mr.Paul Amando.

+229 9364 6011

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam