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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "card center will send you an atm card" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • +22993007679 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22993697167 (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.
  • internationalbank22@gmail.com
  • 3binternationalbank22@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "williams eze" <williamseze015@xakep.ru>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:48:40 +0200
Subject: HOW ARE YOU TODAY?


*FROM THE DESK OF MINISTRY OF FINANCE BENIN REPUBLIC
ADDRESS: 541,ST RITA ABOMY COTONOU BENIN. REPUBLIC.
Phone; +229 93 697 167
Fax: +229-93 00 7679
Our Ref: BR/102/0005B/06
DATE: 3RD JULY 2008

ATTN SOLE BENEFICIARY,

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT OF ($1.5m) ONE

MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS

THROUGH SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER ASIA PACIFIC, THIS

CARD CENTER WILL SEND YOU AN ATM CARD WHICH YOU WILL

USE TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY

PART OF THE WORLD, BUT THE MAXIMUM IS ONE THOUSAND,

FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS PER DAY. SO IF YOU

LIKE TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND IN THIS WAY,PLEASE LET ME

KNOW BY CONTACTING INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC BENIN ATM

PAYMENT DEPARTMENT AND ALSO SEND THE FOLLOWING

INFORMATION AS LISTED BELOW TO THEM.

1.FULL NAME
2.ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
3.PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
4.YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5.ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION

HOWEVER, KINDLY CONTACT THE BELOW PERSON WHO IS IN

POSITION TO RELEASE YOUR ATM PAYMENT CARD.
REV DR.BENARD IKEM DIRECTOR,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC BENIN.
EMAIL;internationalbank22@gmail.com <EMAIL%3Binternationalbank22@gmail.com>

MOBILE: +229 93 697 167

THE ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER HAS BEEN MANDATED TO ISSUE

OUT YOUR PAYMENT AND YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER

COMMINUCATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON(S)
OR OFFICE(s) TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN RECEIVING YOUR

PAYMENT.
NOTE THAT BECAUSE OF IMPOSTORS, WE HEREBY ISSUED YOU

OUR CODE OF
CONDUCT, WHICH IS (ATM-0411) SO YOU HAVE TO INDICATE

THIS CODE WHEN CONTACTING THE CARD CENTER BY USING IT

AS YOUR SUBJECT. REGARDS,

MRS TONY COOKE
SECRETARY MINISTRY OF FINANCE BENIN.




*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam