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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22993991207 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Fredrick Gbego" <drfg_bceao20@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <drfg_bceao@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 18:04:43 +0100
Subject: DEAR DONNA READ AND GET BACK TO ME.



FROM THE DESK OF DR FREDRICK GBEGO.MANAGER OF FINANCE AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT,
BANK BCEAO.
TEL: +229 93991207. DEAR DONNA, MY NAME IS DR FREDRICK GBEGO, A BANKER BY PROFESSION AND CURRENTLY A MANAGER WITH BANK BCEAO COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC. I GOT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IN MY SEARCH FOR A REPUTABLE AND RELIABLE PERSON TO HELP ME CLAIM THE SUM OF UD$10.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS DEPOSITED IN OUR BANK BY ONE OF OUR CUSTOMER WHO DIED WITH THE WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN ON THE 25TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2003 IN A PLANE CLASH. SINCE HIS DEATH NO ONE HAS COME UP AS HIS NEXT OF KIN THIS IS WHY I DECIDED TO SEE IF I CAN GET ANYBODY WHO HAS THE SAME SURNAME OR LAST NAME WITH HIM VIA INTERNET PREFERABLY SOME ONE OF THE SAME NATIONALITY WITH HIM WHICH I BELIEVE YOU HAVE ALL THE QUALITIES I NEED. WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU IS TO PRESENT YOU TO OUR BANK AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO OUR DECEASED COSTUMER ENGR, J .C DONNA, A DRILLING CONTRACTOR WITH SOME OIL COMPANIES HERE IN WEST AFRICA,BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE SAME SURNAME WITH HIM,SO IT WILL BE MORE ACCEPTABLE AND WISER TO PRESENT YOU THROUGH PAPER WORK TO THE BANK FOR THE CLAIM OF THE TOTAL FUND.
BELOW IS THE website, http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS THAT THE BANK MAY REQUEST FROM YOU AND FOLLOW UP THE TRANSFER OF THE FUND INTO YOUR A/C AS AN INSIDER. IT WILL INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN KEEPING MY EYES ON THIS FUNDS AND HAVE ALSO PUT THE ACCOUNT BLIND AND COVERED TO THE PUBLIC BY KEEPING THE ACCOUNT DORMANT TO ENABLE MY PLANS FOR THE FUNDS TO COME THROUGH AND THIS IS THE TIME, IAM HAPPY TO LOCATE SOMEBODY LIKE YOU FOR THE PERFECTION OF THE TRANSFER OF THE FUND INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK A/C TO BE GIVEN. I WILL OFFER YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM WHILE %70 WILL BE FOR ME LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR URGENT RESPONSE BY UPDATING ME WITH YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMNICATION OR YOU CALL ME ON MY DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER +229-93991207. THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU. BEST REGARDS,DR FREDRICK GBEGO,
TEL: +229 93991207.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam