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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "million 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)
• 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.
  • +22993105153 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: office file <office.file2222@gmail.com>
Reply-To: barr_rosemary01@msn.com
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:15:29 +0100
Subject: RELEASE OF YOUR FUND




Attn: Beneficiary,=20
I am Dr Mohamed Williams, the director of Credit Bank Benin. This is to
bring to your notice that my office has taking over all the money
Transaction original ted from any part of African/ Europe and Asia counti=
es
etc. as Contract payment, Fund inheritance or Lottery Winning due to
Unauthorized/incapability of financial Institutions/security companies In
releasing such huge sum of money due to Fraud, terrorist and money Laundr=
y
activities going on world wide. The Wor
ld Bank Group has Mandated the Credit Bank Benin via my Office to releas=
e
funds to beneficiaries through Cash delivery,

Hence Your Name appears as one of The fund beneficiaries whom their fund
was successfully cleared recently From Terrorist and Money laundry and yo=
ur
money will be released to you Through International Cashier's Bank Draft
that will be cashable from any International Bank in your country or cash
delivery been the only way you would receive Your money to avoid paying
excess
charges. As regard to this arrangement, you are advised to contact
the telex directory Dr D
AVID JOHN through his direct email : (TELEXDEPTCBB23@MSN.COM [1] )

CONTACT REV DR DAVID JOHN WITH THE CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW.=20
TELEX DIRECTOR CREDIT BANK BENIN=20
NAME: REV DR DAVID John DIRECT EMAIL:=20
(TELEXDEPTCBB23@MSN.COM [2])DIRECT=20
TEL: +22993105153

You are therefore advised to forward your direct telephone numbers, Your
complete name and your mailing address to REV DR DAVID John for Immediate
release of your fund to you, Most importantly be aware that ($1.2 Million
Dollars) Onlywas allocated to you, be also informed That the Fund Approva=
ls
and authorization document Including Antiterrorist Clearance Certificate
was issued in your=20
name andhas been handed over to Rev. DR DAVID John to release to you.
Finally, REV DR DAVID JOHN is standby to receive your communication and
Release your fund to you through Cash delivery Without further delay. Mak=
e
your contact directly to him
through Email contact any time because we are
working 24 Hours tobe able to meet with the mandate given by the World
Bank.

Thanks for your maximum cooperation.
Dr Mohamed Williams, =20

=20

Links:
------
[1] mailto:telexdeptcbb23@msn.com
[2] mailto:telexdeptcbb23@msn.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam