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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  • +22997771305 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:31:04 +0200
Subject: FROM Mr Felix JNR.


*FROM Mr Felix JNR.
Manager of Audit & Acct.Dept.
Ecowas Union Bank (EUB).
COTONOU.BENIN REPUBLIC.**phone +229 97 77 13 05


Dear Friend.


( READ CAREFULLY AND KEEP SECRET) *

*
Greeting, and how are you doing?I hope fine.Please let this my
message do not be a surprise to you because I got your informations
and lay trust in you before i contacted you.I am the Director incharge
OF AUDIT & ACCOUNTANCY DEPARTMENT of our bank and i decided to
contact you over this financial transaction worth the sum of Nine
million Six hundred thounsand Dollars.($9,600,000.00).This is an
abandoned fund that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died
along with his completely
family.
**http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html*
<http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html>*
*

*I was very fortunate to came across the deceased file when I was
arranging the old and abandoned customers files of 2003-2004 in other
to submit to the bank managements accordingly for documentation
purposes.It is clearly stated in our BANKING FOREIGN POLICY and signed
lawfully that if such fund remains unclaimed by the NEXT OF KIN till
the period of EIGHT(8) years starting from the date when the
beneficiary died, the
money will be transferred into the BANK TREASURY as an unclaimed
fund.Besides,it is not authorized by the law guiding our bank for a citizen of
Benin to make the claim of the fund.

So the request of you as a foreigner is necessary to apply for the
claim and transfer of the fund smoothly into your reliable bank
account as the NEXT OF KIN to the deceased.When the fund is
transferred into youraccount,Thirty five PERCENT(35%) will be for you
in an assistance and in provision of the bank account,%15 Is set aside
for incured expences incured,while Fifty PERCENT (50%) will be for
me.and my colleague.

If you are really sure of your intergerity, trustworthy and
confidentiality, reply with your contact necessary for the transfer
and call me as you so that I will let you know the steps to follow in
order to finalize this transaction immediately.I will be waiting for
your urgent
reply.

My regards to you and your family,

(FROM Mr Felix Azizz**JNR.Manager of Audit & Accountancy Dept*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam