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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:

• 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:
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  • +22997139600 (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.
  • mrleopius11k@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Leo Pius" <mrleopius2k@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrleopius11k@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:58:39 +0200
Subject: Greeting my dear,


Greeting my dear,


I am the Director in charge of Audit Department in the Group Bank of Africa
Cotonou Benin Rep.


Honestly, I need your urgent assistance in transfering the sum of ($19.3
million immediately to your account, after reading your profiles in the
internet I was convinced, hence I contacted you.


This amount has been secured in an escrow account since the year 2003 in my
bank , after submitting the audit report of the same fiscal year, there was
no trace of this money by the bank.


I will send you details on how the business will executed, be aware that you
will have 30% of the total sum if you agree to help actualise the project.


If you are insterested, send in your response with your telephone number to
enable us open communication access for more full details Reply to (
mrleopius11k@hotmail.com )

Regards,


Mr Leo Pius
Dir. Audit Dept
D/L: +229-97139600

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam