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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +27739100427 (South Africa, 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.
  • charles_benson03@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: charles_benson02@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 09:17:43 -0800
Subject: GREETINGS!!!!!!!!

FROM: MR CHARLES BENSON.
TEL+27 739 100 427
CAPE TOWN
SOUTH AFRICA.

GREETINGS!

I AM VERY HAPPY TO USE THIS OPPURTUNITY TO CONTACT YOU, WITH THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE OF HELP TO ME.I AM MR CHARLES BENSON THE SON LATE MR DAWOOD BENSON OF ZIMBABAWE. UNFORTUNATELY MY LATE DAD WAS AMONG THE BLACK FARMERS WHO WERE GRUESOMELY MURDERED BY THE THUGS OF THE PRESENT HEAD OF STATE: ROBERT MUGABE. THIS HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF HIS REFUSAL TO SUPPORT THE EVICTION OF THEY WHITE FARMERS AND HIS RECENT LAND REFORM ACT.
THEREFORE, THE REASON I AM CONTACTING YOU IS TO HELP ME AND MY FAMILY TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF US$22,400,000.00 (Twenty two Million, four Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars), WHICH HE CAREFULLY DEPOSITED INTO A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA BEFORE HIS DEATH, IN THE NAME OF VALUABLES.

PRESENTLY, MY FAMILY AND I ARE RESIDING HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA AS REFUGEES.AS A MATTER OF FACT WE ARE LIMITED TO SOME CERTAIN FINANCIAL RIGHTS.THIS IS ONE OF THE REEASONS WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN OVERSEA PARTNER TO HELP US.

FINALY, IF YOU DEEM YOURSELF CAPABLE OF HELPING MY FAMILY, PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS AND DON’T FAIL TO INCLUDE YOUR DIRECT PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS IN RETURN.THEN SHALL WE DISCUSS IN DETAIL.
HOPING TO HAVE A FAVOURABLE RESPONSE FROM YOU.

YOURS SINCERELY.
CHARLES BENSON
EMAIL:charles_benson03@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam