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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "cotonou" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: David Koso <davidkoso4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <davidkoso1@myway.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:58:28 -0600
Subject: DEAREST FRIEND I NEED A FOREIGN ACCOUNT



FROM THE DESK OF: MR DAVID KOSO. Email:davidkoso1@myway.comFINANCIAL CONTROLLER, BENIN MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING (B.M.W.H). COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC

HELLO DEAR,

WE ARE SENDING THIS MAIL TO YOU BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE OF THE BENIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANDINDUSTRY.WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BE IN A POSITION TO ASSIST US IN OUR BID TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF TEN MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($10.5M USD) INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT.
WE ARE TWO IN MEMBERS OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND PLANNING OF THE BENIN MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING (B.M.W.H)..THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH THE APPROVAL AND APPRAISALS OF CONTRACTS,IN ORDER OF PRIORITY AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF BENIN.

WITH OUR POSITION, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOROURSELVES, THE SUM OF TEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITEDSTATES DOLLARS $10.5M USD)THIS AMOUNT WAS ACCUMULATED THROUGH UNDECLARED WINDFALL FROM THE AWARD OF CONTRACT, FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND OTHERS. WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ACCOUNT INTO WHICH THIS FUND WILL BE TRANSFERRED SINCE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALLOWED BY OUR LAWS TO OPERATE FOREIGNACCOUNTS.IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH $3,50,000.00M USD OF THE REMITTED FUND, WE WILL KEEP $6,400,000.00M USD WHILE $1,50,000.00M USD WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET ALL EXPENSES AND PAY THE NECESSARY TAXES.

IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO, A SIMILAR TRANSACTION WAS CARRIED OUT WITH ONE MR.ATRICE MILLER,THE PRESIDENT OF CRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION, AT NUMBER 135, EAST 57TH STREET, 28TH FLOOR, NEW YORK 10022; WITH TELEPHONENUMBER(212)308-7788 AND TELEX NUMBER 6731689. AFTERTHE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH PARTNERS IN WHICH MR. MILLER WAS TO TAKE 20%,THE MONEY WAS DULY TRANSFERRED INTO HIS ACCOUNT ONLY TO BE DISAPPOINTED ON OUR ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK, AS WERE RELIABLY INFORMED THAT MR. MILLER WAS NO LONGER ON THAT ADDRESS,WHILE HIS TELEPHONE AND TELEX NUMBERS HAVE BEEN RE-ALLOCATED TO SOMEONE ELSE.

THAT WAS HOW WE LOST $10.5M USD) TO MR. PATRICE MILLER. THIS TIME AROUND,WE NEED A MORE RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON OR A REPUTABLE COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS WITH, HENCE THIS MAIL TO YOU.SO, IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRUSTED AND ARE INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL, THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU. ALL WE NEED FROM YOU IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL LET US HAVE OUR SHARE WHEN THIS AMOUNT OF( $10.5M USD) IS TRASERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

IF THIS PROPOSAL MEETS YOUR INTEREST, EMAIL ME SO THAT WE CAN ADVISE YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF THE TRANSACTION. ALL MODALITIES OF THE TRANSFER HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AND ONCE STARTED WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 14 WORKING DAYS WITH THE ABSOLUTE SUPPORT OF ALL ONCERNED.
THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE.REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASE OF COMMUNICATION. PLEASE, TREAT THIS MAIL AS URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL .IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU,PLEASE EMAIL ME. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,DR DAVID KOSO.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam