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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:
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22993908735 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22997046980 (Benin, probably a 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.
  • barr_jameskain@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: BARRISTER JAMES KAIN <mrjameskain@orange.nl>
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 19:55:33 +0100 (CET)
Subject: HUMBLE REQUEST


FROM BARRISTER JAMES KAIN
Avocat A La Cour 04 BP I242 Cotonou,
République du Bénin.
Tel: 00229- 97046980.
Attn:Dear Friend,

Compliments,I am Barrister James Kain, i have decided to bestow
this trust on you, which I pray you will not ignore or betray.I appologize
in advance for any inconviniences this may cause you. i am the
Personal Attorney to late Peter. D.Niemann, who was a contractor here in
Benin Rep.Who died on December 2003, with his entire family were
perished in Air -Crash on board from Cotonou.View the below site for more
information

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm
As a matter of fact, My client made a fixed deposit Amount, valued at
(USD$20.5M) with BANK OF AFRICA
here in Benin Rep, and upon the duration time of their agreement,His
Bank started contacting him but no response. Conseqently, The Bank
issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to the deceased as his
personal attorney,or have his account confiscated after four years, as it is
in the law of this country.

Since then, I have made several contacts to his countries embassy in
order to locate any of my clients extended relatives,which had also been
unsuccessful. Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the
relatives for over two years now, I seek your consent to present you as the
next of kin of the deceased since none of his relatives were no way to be
found so that the proceeds of this account valued at $20.5m could be
transffered into your account, thereafter,we will both share it in
percentage according to our contributions to boost the success of this great transaction.

I have all the necessary informations needed that can be used to back
up the claims from the bank where the fund was deposited by the
deceased. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us make this
great benefiting transaction successfully.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch
with me as soon as possible .

With Best Regards,
Barrister James Kain
Tel + 229 93 90 87 35
Email;barr_jameskain@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam