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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "huge deposit" (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 us 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)
  • "lagos" (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.
  • +2348024430983 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • ifeanyiogbonna@sino.net

Fraud email example:

From: "ifeanyi ogbonna" <ifeanyiogbonna2@msn.com>
Reply-To: ifeanyiogbonna@sino.net
Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2006 14:15:22 +0000
Subject: HOW ARE YOU

Mr.Ifeanyi Ogbonna
Branch Accountant,
STANDARD TRUSTBANK PLC,
Lagos Nigeria,
Tel:+234-802-443-0983
Email:ifeanyiogbonna@sino.net

Attention,

I am an Accountant with STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC,My name is Mr.Ifeanyi
Ogbonna Banker I am the personal Account Manager to Engineer Thomas A.A
National of your country, who used to work with shell Development company in
Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client On 21st April
2001, my client,his wife, and their three children were involved in a car
accident along Sagamu express way.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately
lost their lives.

Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
clients extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.After these
several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the
Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind
by my client before they Get confiscated or declared unserviceableby the
bank where this huge deposits were lodged, particularly the STANDARD TRUST
BANK PLC.

Where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($10Million U S Dollars)
has Issued me a notice to provide the next of kin.Or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days.Since I have been
unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 to 3 years now, I seek
your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you
have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at($10
Million US Dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me Can share the
money.50%to me and 45% to you.5%will set aside for defrayal of any expenses
that may be incurred locally and internationally in course of the transfer.

An attorney will be contracted to help us revalidated and notarize all the
necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us se this deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under alegitimate arrangement that
will protect you. from any breach of the law.You can reply me at:
ifeanyiogbonna@sino.net

Best Regards,
Mr.Ifeanyi Ogbonna
Tel:+234-802-443-0983

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam