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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • jamesadams026@myway.com
  • 3ajamesadams026@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "james adam" <jamesadam4@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 22:28:03 +0200
Subject: urgent respond


Mr. James Adam,
06 BP 1409 Akpakpa Dodomey,
Cotonou - Benin Republic.
Email:jamesadams026@myway.com <Email%3Ajamesadams026@myway.com>

Dear Friend.

I crave your indulgence and pray you view this message seriously as I
am convinced that you would be capable to provide me with a solution to
a money transfer. Though, this medium has been greatly abused, but I
choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest,
surest and most secured medium of communication. However, this
correspondence is unofficial and private, and it should be treated as such.
I also
guarantee you that this deal is hitch free from all what you may think of.


My name is My name is Mr. James Adam, the Director of Bill and
Exchange, Foreign Remittance Department of one of the prime banks here in
Benin Republic. This mail is written to solicit your assistance to be
presented as next of kin to my deceased client Mr.Andreas Schranner who died
along with his entire family in a plane crash of Air France Concorde
Airlines 31 July, 2000. Please do view this very site for more
information about our deceased client:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

He made a numbered time deposit valued US$12.5M,(Twelve Million, Five
Hundred Thousand US Dollars) with an intent of putting up a gold mining
company here in Cotonou and upon maturity, this bank started contacting
him but to no avail. We finally discovered that Mr. Andreas Schranner
died without indicating any next of Kin/Heir in all his deposit
documents with our bank. Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I
shall seek your consent to be presented as the next of Kin, so that the
proceeds of this account will be paid to you for our mutual benefit.

Please if you are interested, include your telephone/fax number/ Home
Address when replying this mail and I will give you more information as
soon as you indicate your willingness to assist in this transaction.

Yours faithfully,

James Adam.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam