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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:
  • "with absolute secrecy" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: mr j <m_r_j_1@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 01:16:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello Dear


Hello Dear

I apologize if the contents in this mail are contrary to your moral ethics, which I feel may be of great disturbance to your personal life, But please treat with absolute secrecy and personal. I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health. I am Mr John Ogbeka the Director of Operation with Community Bank Cotonou, Republic of Benin.One of our customers Engr Ron Morris, with his entire family were among the victims of December 25, 2003 Air-Crash.

For more about the Air Crash you can visitthe CNN web news for the tragedy.http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/

Before his death, he has an account with us valued at Two Million, Six hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars ( $USD5.M) According to the Benin Law, at the expiration of three years the money will revert to theownership of the Benin government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin or Distant Cousin for us to claim this money, so that the fruits of this old man's labour will notget into the hands of some corrupt government officials who will latter use the money to sponsor war in Africa and kill innocent citizens in the search for political power.

Please note that there will be no problem as my bank has made all effort through your embassy here in Cotonou, Benin Republic to reach for any Relation but all was fruitless.My position as the Director of Operation in this bank guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.

If you are interested and in agreement with me, please write back immediately. This money will be shared 50% each once the funds is transferred to your account in your country or anywhere else. If not interested please distroy the mail because of the confidentiality attached to it.I promise that this transaction will be done under a legitimate arrangement that will protect both of us from any breach of the law.
Best Regards.
Mr John Ogbeka


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam