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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:
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • mraustinthomas@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "AUSTIN THOMAS" <austinthomas18@ig.com.br>
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:03:23 -0700
Subject: I CAN HELP YOU OUT FOR REAL TO TRANSFER YOUR FUND WITH HONESTY AND SINCERITY


*PLEASE REPLY ME ONLY THROUGH THIS MY PRIVATE EMAIL HERE (**
mraustinthomas@gmail.com* <mraustinthomas@gmail.com>*) FOR SECURITY REASON
OK. *

*My Dear, *

*My name is Mr. Austin Thomas, and i work with the Apex Bank of Africa
,precisely CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN REPUBLIC as a Manager in(Telex/Computer
Section) . I am in charge of all Payment into Foreign Bank Account. I will
help you IF you would not deny me after i helped you for real. As i was
going through the computer this morning ,i saw your name and your unpaid
fund (Draft cheque ) which has been kept for quite some time now unpaid due
to some outstanding payments you need to offset before receiving your
payment or before your fund could be transferred to you, though this your
payment was sometime discussed with our Director, but this information i
want to give to you now , do not discuss it with our Director as i will not
be happy if you do and i will abandon it as soon as you inform him about
this development .*


*You see , i am ready to credit this your money into you bank account just
of Free Of Charge (FOC)since i am in charge here, i am given you 100%
Assurance that i can do this for you, but on the ground that you will give
me 5% of the total sum IMMEDIATELY this fund is credited into your account
just as soon as the credit is effected , i will cover up every tracing point
about this fund so that no one could trace or find out about this fund
again. You know this thing i am embarking on is illegal, but i want to take
the risk so that i will make some money to establish good business out
there. Please if the above suggestion is ok by you ,do reply me immediately
i will inform you about the next step .Note that the hard disc for all
foreign payments is only one and there is no way i can use the same disc to
credit your account to avoid any trace and on that ground you will have to
buy a hard disc in your country and send to me so that i will transmit all
your file into it and later use it to credit your account. You don't need to
spend money any more before you receive your money except the hard disc you
will buy and send to me. *


*I would have asked you to send money to buy it here in Africa, but for the
fact that it will be cheaper in your country than here, hence i wanted you
to buy it there and send it to me. The name of the hard disc is (Supio H4)
and please do not buy any one made in Taiwan, the best is the one made in
England ok please take note, and what is needed is just one hard disc only
to execute this transaction ok. This hard disc is used for crediting of an
account, only use in the bank and financial houses. Just buy it and send it
to me immediately so that before the next 48hrs the job will be completed.*

*Thanking you in advance for your understanding and your urgent response
will be truly appreciated.*

*Please reply this mail immediately you receive it for more explanation.*


*Yours sincerely
Mr. Austin Thomas
(CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN) *


*NB: PLEASE REPLY ME ONLY THROUGH THIS MY PRIVATE EMAIL HERE (**
mraustinthomas@gmail.com* <mraustinthomas@gmail.com>*) FOR SECURITY REASON
OK.*

*
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam