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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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (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 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.
  • +22998451288 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22993608179 (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.
  • ecob@rocketmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "hill john" <hill_john06@legwork.com.ng>
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:08:43 +0200
Subject: CONTACT THE DIRECTOR OF ATM MASTER CARD


Dear Friend,

I have contacted my secretary to confirm if you have received the
compensation draft cheque of (US$1.500.000) (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATE AMERICAN DOLLAR) which I issued in your name, but he
told me that he could not send it to you because of the courier charges. Now
I have called my bank to cancel any payment regards to the draft cheque and
then authorized them to transfer the payment into ATM CARD in your name
which they did.

As of now be informed that all charges has been paid and the ATM CARD is
going to be in your name, but to reactivate the ATM Card you have to forward
your current informations as requested below to the bank and the only money
you will pay to the bank is US$185 for the ATM Card Reactification fee,
then they will send you the ATM CARD for your immediate use.
Here are the informations you have to forward to the bank:

1. YOUR FULL NAMES:______
2. Postal ADDRESS:_______
3. PHONE NUMBER:_________
4. CELL NUMBERS:_______
5. EMAIL ADDRESS:________
6. SEX:_____
7. AGE:_____
8. OCCUPATION:________
9. NATIONALITY:________

CONTACT THE DIRECTOR REV DR.Anthony Willimas:

Director, ATM Foreign Operation Dept.
Dalmond BANK Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Phone: + 229 93 60-81-79
Fax: +229 98-45-12-88

Email:(ecob@rocketmail.com

EMAIL;(atm_master_card_paymentbenin02@yahoo.in

Get back to me once you received the ATM CARD ok.
Thanks and God bless you.
Mr Hill John

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam