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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:
  • "dearest beloved one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • festus_bernard@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: festus bernard <festus_bernard@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:10:51 +0100 (CET)
Subject: From Festus Bernard, Please I Need Your Help.


From Festus Bernard
Abidjan Cote Divoire.
festus_bernard@yahoo.fr



Dearest Beloved One,

With all my sincerity and passion I wish this mail meet you in good
mode, as all what you are about to read from me is real and serious
expecting your urgent attention. I write to intimate you of a
matter that requires an urgent attention. But briefly, I am Festus
Bernard the son of late Dr Daniel Bernard CEO/Managing Director
Sierra Leone Gold & Diamond Mining Corporation. It is my pleasure
communicating with you for the first time and believe that it will
lead to a better relationship between us. I hope you will not
impede the trust and confidence I repose in you.

I sent this letter from Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire here I have an
official refugee status with my sister after leaving our country
due to an event that took place on Febuary 2003 which led to the
arrest and detention of our late father and six other men after a
face off with the Sierra-Leone government on allegation of
subversive activities and treasonable offences which was nothing
but a mere political persecution.

After five months in the military detention camp my Father was
announced dead by the government special press release. Though I do
not know to what extent you are familiar with the event and crisis
in Sierra-Leone, however during the disturbance and prior to my
Father's death he gave me all the deposit slip for the secret
deposit he made in a private bank account here in Abidjan Cote
Divoire. The deposit is US$ 10.5 Million US Dollars, he made the
deposit in a private bank account in Abidjan Abidjan Cote Divoire,
You will confirm and clarify the existence of this very fund
after all neccessary arrangement are put in place for this fund
transfer into your private bank account for full security before we
decide on what kind of investment together.

However I have establised the ownership of this very fund in the
bank to confirm the deposit and , please I need your assistance to
help me move out all this fund to be transfered into your private
bank account abroad hence I am very worried here because of the
insecurity in this country, and urgently in moving this fund to
your country for our investment, when the fund is properly secured
we will jointly invest in any business you consider profitable.

I will be glad for your resolved assistance, I will kindly
appreciate you if we can talk and emergence words with action. With
all honesty and humility to the stated data in my message,I assure
you of the genuity of his fund transfer as it is real and there is
no danger attached to it , this you will confirm . I will
particularly be happy if you can handle this transaction in the
most confidential manner since the rest of my life and that of my
only sister solely depends on this fund.

It is the fear of betrayal from any one around us here that
informed my decision to contact a neutral individual like you, and
I want you to educate us on investment potential in your country
since I would not like to invest around. I will not hesitate to
give you 20% or whatever percentage you will want out of the total
sum for your assistance, so if you will be able to assist me and my
sister in helping us transfer out this very fund into your private
bank account for our investment as I will be willing to forward
you every neccessary deposit slip from a private bank account in
Abidjan , and the office contact immediately, Please do urgently
reply me for further clarification and confirmation.

Thank for your anticipated co-operation, May God bless you.

Your Sincerely,
Festus Bernard.
__________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam