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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:
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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:
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• 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.
  • +447040117565 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • benard_williams2006@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • williams.benard_williams2006@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <benard_williams2006@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:36:44 +0000
Subject: GOODDAY



From:Mr.Benard Williams.United Kingdom.Phone no: +447040117565Email: benard_williams2006@hotmail.com

Attn:Pls

My name is Mr.Benard Williams I work in the International operation Department in a Local Bank here in London, United Kingdom. On a routine inspection I discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a BAL.Of 36,000,000(Thirty Six Million Pounds.(BPS) on further discreet Investigation, I also discovered that the account holder has long since passed away (dead) leaving no beneficiary to the account.

The bank will approve this money to any foreigner because the former operator of the a/c is a foreigner and from America in particular and I am certainly sure that he is dead, and nobody will come again for the claim of this money A foreigner can only claim this money with legal claims to theaccount Holder;therefore I need your cooperation in this transaction. I will provide the necessary information needed inorder to claim this Money,But you will need to open an account where this can be transferred.

If interested send your private Telephone No. And Fax number including full details of the account to be used for the Deposit I wish for utmost confidentiality in handling this transaction as my job and the future of my family would be jeopardized if it were breached. I want to assure you that the transaction is without risk if due process is followed accordingly.Finally,I will give you 25% for your corporation.I look forward to a favorable response from you through this my Privateemail: benard_williams2006hotmail.com Regards, Mr Benard Williams.benard_williams2006@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam