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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "stamp duty" (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. )
  • "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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • atmpayment@bk.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: infoatmpayment <infoatmpayment@orange.nl>
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:14:00 +0100 (CET)
Subject: ATM LOTTERY PAYMENT NOTIFICATION




Cotonou Benin Republic
To All Beneficiaries
Contact Email, atmpayment@bk.ru
FROM THE DESK OF:
MR JOHN ROLAND
phone (+229)93561465


This is to officially inform you that we have verified your lottery inheritance file and found out that why you have not received your lottery payment is because you have not fulfilled the obligations given to you in respect of your lottery/inheritance payment.Secondly we have been informed that you are still dealing with none officials in the bank in all your attempt to secure the release of the fund to you. I wish to advise you that such an illegal act have to stop if you wish to receive your payment since we have decided to bring a solution to your problem. Right now we have arranged your payment through our swift card payment center in that is the latest instruction from the President federal Republic of BENIN

This card center will send to you an ATM card which you will use to withdraw your money in any ATM machine in any part of the world, so if you like to receive your fund in this way, please let us know by contacting the ATM payment department and also send the following information as listed below.

1. Full name

2. Phone and fax number

3. Address were you want them to send the ATM card to (p.o box not acceptable)

4. Your age and current occupation

5. Attach copy of your identification

We have been instructed to issue out $8,300,000.00 as part payment for this fiscal year 2008. Also for your information, you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment.Use (00229) so you have to indicate this code when contacting the card center by using it as your subject.

Note that you are to take care of the Courier Shipment Fee and Customs Stamp Duty Fee

Waiting for your urgent response to enable expedite me action.
YOURS SINCERELY, MR JOHN ROLAND
phone (+229)93561465
Your's Sincerely,
Africa Development Bank Cotonou Republic Du Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam