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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.

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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:
  • "required fee " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• 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.
  • +22997729789 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Clark" <clark47@myway.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 06:03:58 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Payment option


OVERSEAS STAKE LOTTERY INTER.COTONOU-REPUBLIC OF BENIN(BRANCH)Direct line: +229 97729789.
Attention: Sergey Ostrovsky,
I received your email in respect of claiming your UK lottery winning.
I want to bring to your hearing that the amount you have won in our lotto is 1,000,000.00 EURO.
The information your forwarded to us has been noted and your winning fund is on process. Before you can claim your winning fund you will have to go through our payment procedures below and choose the option you prefer to enable us serve you better.
1) Bank to Bank transfer: If you which to receive your winning fund through bank transfer, you will have to open a transit bank account with our paying bank here, this bank account will accommodate the fund which you have won in our lotto, through this bank account your winning fund will be transferred into your designated bank account anywhere in the world.
Note that this process will cost you ($1,500 United States Dollar) to open a transit bank account with our paying bank here, and the account remains yours with the money therein which will be transferred alongside with the fund you have won in our lotto. Transfer commence under 72 hours after our requirement has been met.
2) Through cashier's cheque: where by your winning sum will be issued in a certified cashier's cheque and sent to your door step, but you will have to pay for the courier service charges/insurance coverage bound.
Courier delivery service charge: $200Insurance coverage cost : $1000 inclusive vatTotal of: $1200 United States Dollars
This process is 2 days delivery and your cheque will be sent after our requirement has been met.
All these has to be done before the transfer commence. There is no deduction of bills from the total sum to avoid a wrongful payment or short of money during the transfer. This is our procedure and you have to meet up with all these to enable us serve you well.
Our paying Bank will contact you for onward payment after we have received the required fee for any of the two option you may prefer to received your winning fund.
Note that you have 7 working days to comply with our requirement.
Congratulations and enjoy your winnings. For further information’s you can contact the under sign on this telephone number: +229 97729789.
Yours,Peter Clark.Lottery Co-ordinator.

_______________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam