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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:

• 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)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • donaldhenry2005@138mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "henry donald" <henrydonaldconsult11@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: donaldhenry2005@138mail.com
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:25:47 +0100
Subject: hello visser

From The Desk Of
Barrister Donald Henry
Divine Chambers & Associates
Cotonou,Benin Republic
Alternative email address:donaldhenry2005@138mail.com

Attention Please,

My name is Donald Henry, a legal practitioner here in Porto-Novo. I am
contacting you over a business transfer of a huge sum of money from a
deceased
clients account Engr.Gerald Visser. Though I know that a transaction of this
magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you
that everything has been taken care of, and all will be well at the end of
the day. I decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.

My client died as result of an industrial accident in October 2003 he has a
domiciliary account that has remained dormant for over two years now with
Five
million eight hundred thousand dollars (US$5.8.000.000.00) in it, Since
after his death, neither his family members nor distant relatives have been
located to claim this said fund.

The security/finance company cannot release the fund from his account unless
someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in
the banking guidelines here. Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission
to have you stand in as a next of kin to my deceased client, as all
documentations
will be carefully worked out by me for the funds ($5.8,000,000.00) to be
released in your favour as the beneficiary's next of kin.I have secured
every
legal document from the judiciary to present you as the beneficiary.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual
business endeavour by furnishing me with the following information if you
are interested.

(1)YOUR FULL NAMES
(2)YOUR NATIONALITY
(3)YOUR OCCUPATION
(4)YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
(5)YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBERS
(6)YOUR AGE/MARITAL STATUS

You shall be recieving 47% on final conclusion of this claim, 6% shall be
for charity, while the balance 47% shall be for me. If this proposal is
acceptable by you, please endeavour to contact me immediately. Do not take
undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed on you. Please this transaction
demands high level of confidentiality.

I await your urgent response.

Best Regards,
Donald Henry.
Principal Counsel

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam