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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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• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22997285978 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Ahmed Bello <a02_bello@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: mrahmedbello@hotmail.fr
Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 13:07:54 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Reply....


FROM THE DESK OF MR.AHMED BELLO
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AUDITING AND
ACCOUNTING UNIT,CONTINENTAL TRUST
BANK COTONOU,BENIN REPUBLIC.
TELEPHONE:+229 97285978.
 
ATTN:Friend,
 
 
 MY NAME IS MR.AHMED BELLO, A BANKER BY PROFESSION AND CURRENTLY A DIRECTOR WITH CONTINENTAL TRUST BANK COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
 
 I GET YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IN MY SEARCH FOR A REPUTABLE AND RELIABLE PERSON TO HELP ME CLAIM THE SUM OF UD$15 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS DEPOSITED IN OUR BANK BY ONE OF OUR CUSTOMER WHO DIE WITH THE WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN ON THE 25TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2003 IN A PLANE CLASH.
 
 SINCE HIS DEATH NO ONE HAS COME UP AS HIS NEXT OF KIN AND ALL OUR EFFORTS TO LOCATE ANY MEMBER OF HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY HAS PROVE ABORTIVE THAT WAS WHY I DECIDED TO SEE IF I CAN GET ANYBODY WHO WILL ASSIST ME AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE ALL THE QUALITIES WE NEED .
 
 
 WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU IS TO PRESENT YOU TO OUR BANK AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO OUR DECEASED COSTUMER ENGR.J.C ZARANETH.WHO IS  A DRILLING CONTRACTOR WITH SOME OIL COMPANIES HERE IN WEST AFRICA.SO IT WILL BE MORE ACCEPTABLE AND WISER TO PRESENT YOU THROUGH PAPER WORK TO THE BANK FOR THE CLAIM OF THE TOTAL FUND.website= http://www.iafpa.org.uk/news-template.php?t=4&id=1291
 
 I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS THAT THE BANK MAY REQUEST FROM YOU AND FOLLOW UP THE TRANSFER OF THE FUND INTO YOUR A/C AS AN INSIDER.   IT WILL INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT I AND MY PARTNERS  HAS BEEN KEEPING OUR EYES ON THIS FUNDS AND HAS PUT THE ACCOUNT BLIND AND COVERED TO THE PUBLIC BY KEEPING THE ACCOUNT DORMANT TO ENABLE OUR PLANS FOR THE FUNDS TO COME THROUGH AND THIS IS THE TIME AND WE ARE HAPPY TO LOCATE YOU FOR THE PERFECTION OF THE TRANSFER OF THE FUND INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK A/C TO BE GIVEN.
 
 AS SOON AS I GET YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE I WILL UPDATE YOU ABOUT THE MODE OF DISBURSEMENT AND WE WILL ALSO NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INVESTING IN YOUR COUNTRY AS A WAY TO OF HELPING YOU PEOPLE WHO SUPPOSE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS FUNDS .
 
 LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
 
 YOURS SPECIALLY
 MR.AHMED BELLO.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam