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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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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "million 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22993642655 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "barristernonso lawrence" <barristerlawrenc@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:40:22 +0100
Subject: CONTACT THE OCEANIC BANK BENIN REPUBLIC IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR ATM SWIFT CARD


DEAR FRIEND,
How are you today together with your family i hope every
body is fine, you did not come down to my country here Benin
Republic to pick your money ($10.8million us dollars ) in a
Bank draft as we fixed and i did not heard from you since
that time as we
arranged then I went and deposited the Bank Draft with THE
OCEANIC BANK PLC OF BENIN REPUBLIC here in Benin
Republic because I travelled to saudi arabia for medical
check up i will not be back till next monthending.

I have arranged with the Bank to make your payment to you
with their new ATM MASTER CARD which you can use
to withdraw your money in any ATM machine around the globe
at the maximium rate of $185.00 us dollars (Onethousand &
Eight five US Dollars) per day.
You have to contact the OCEANIC BANK PLC OF BENIN REPUBLIC
with your full contact informations such as follows.

YOUR FULL NAME...............
YOUR HOME ADDRESS.............
YOUR COUNTRY........................
YOUR PHONE NUMBER..............
A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE...............

However, kindly contact the below person who is in
position to release your ATM MASTER CARD.
REV RAPH JOHN DIRECTOR,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT OCEANIC BANK PLC OF BENIN
REPUBLIC.
MOBILE, +229-93642655
EMAIL: (atmdepartmentbenin02@live.fr)
EMAIL: (atmdepartmentbeninrepublic@live.fr )


I have paid for the delivery, stamp and insurance
charges.The only Money that your are going to pay to them is
only ($185.00 us Dollars) which they will use
to reactivate your ATM MASTER CARD before sending it to you.
Try to contact them as soon as possible to enable them
quicken the processing of your ATM CARD . Do Let me know as
soon as you receive your ATM CARD.
Thanks
Barrister Nonso Lawrence.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam