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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:
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +22997857135 (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.
  • undccp@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <undccp@hotmail.fr>
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:41:58 +0000
Subject: ATTN: Beneficiary,



UNITED NATIONS(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME)DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONALPAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.870 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA 20-A /O:PNEW YORK NY 10017WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX028 ATTN: Beneficiary, RE: IRREVOCABLE RELEASE OF YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT/FUND. The above office having been authorized by the presidency, Ecowas Countries and the governing board of the Central bank of Republic Du Benin to investigate the unnecessary delay of your payment, after proven fraudulent malpractices phenomenon perpetuated by Nigerian unscrupulous official, thus recommend and approve your claims for payment as certified genuine. Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part-payment of US$7.5 million and has been approved already for a long time. However, we have received an email from one Dr. Robert Water who told us that he is your next of kin and that you died in a car accident last week. He has also submitted his account for us to transfer the fund to him. We want to hear from you before we can make the transfer to confirm if you are dead or not. In case otherwise, it is a false claim, Be informed that your personal identification number (PIN) and your transfer access code (T.A.C),which will enable only you have direct control over this fund, is ready and will be release to you without delay upon the confirmation from you. You are therefore advised to contact Dr. Frank Cox, DIRECTOR International Audit unit, United Nations Liaison Office, Ecowas House Cotonou, Benin Republic on TEL: +22997857135 or EMAIL:(undccp@hotmail.fr) to collect your original payment slip with your pin and transfer access code. Note that excessive bureaucracy will not be involved in this resolved payment mode, as you are to submit the payment codes and slip to your paying bank, who will credit your account without delay,as would be issued to you by our paying office. We expect your urgent response to this email to enable us monitor this payment effectively. CONGRATULATIONS.CAPT. JAMES C. WILLIAMSUNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam