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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• 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:
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +22993003223 (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.
  • kevingbenou208@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: kevin_gbenou@freenet.de
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:19:19 +0100
Subject: From Mr.Kevin Gbenou, the Director of Operation with Community Trust Bank Cotonou-Benin Republic


KEVIN GBENOU DIRCTOR OF
OPERATION COMMUNITY TRUST BANK
COTONOU
REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN
PLOT 14 CARRE 589 MISSEBO
TEL: +229 93 00 32 23
FAX:
+229 23 33 21 325
EMAIL: kevingbenou208@yahoo.fr
ATTEN: DEAR TRUSTING
FRIEND,I honestly apologize and hope I do not cause you much
embarrassment by contacting you through this means for a transaction of
this magnitude. This message could be strange but it\'s real if you pay
some attention to it, Due to the confidentiality and prompt access
reposed on this medium, it became necessary for me to seek your
assistance and it is imperative for me to know your opinion. In a brief
introduction, I am Mr Kevin Gbenou, the Director of Operation with
Community Trust Bank Cotonou-Benin Republic. I have a very interesting
deal to discuss with you, the deal under discussion has to do with Mr
George C.Hudson a national of your country, who was employed as a
Consultant/contractor with Societe Nationale Des Products D\' Agricole
(SONAPRA) a cotton manufacturing company in Cotonou-Benin. On 25th
December 2003, Mr. George C.Hudson with his wife and their only daughter
was involved in a plane crash victims with Boe 727-type air plane
belonging to African Transport Union (UTA). In this fatal tragidy with
Beirut-bound flight, 110 persons died and Over 40 others still reported
missing, while 22 passengers survived, you may confirm the event of the
air crash throug,http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3350455.stm
or(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3353551.stm). Consequently,
Mr George C.Hudson made a numbered time (fixed) deposited for twelve
calendar and his account with our Bank accrues to about (Ten Million,
Two hundred and Fifty- Two Thousand US Dollars) USDM10.252,000.00. Hence
my decision to contact you so that you and I will go into partnership
hence late Mr George C.Hudson has no other relative to claim his left
fund in our bank. However,the nature of your business is completely
irrelevant to this transaction as all I need from you is an assurance
that my interest will be fully protected once this deal is concluded.
All I want you to do is to ACT as the next of kin of Late Mr George
C.Hudson because you are a foreigner like him which makes this claim
straight forward, this fund will be reverted to the government
ownnership as abaundoned treasury if no body applies as his next of kin.
Therefore, you as a foreigner is fully qualified to stand as the next of
kin to late Mr George C.Hudson so that the fruits of this old man\'s
labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials
as the expiration period is at hand. Please note that There is no risk
at all, my position as the Director of Operation guarantees the
successful execution of this transaction. It is expected that upon the
receipt of your acceptance, this transaction will be concluded within 7
Banking days and the money will be paid into your account for us to
share in the ratio of 40% for you and 60% for me. Please if you are
interested kindly reply me with my alternative email:
kevingbenou208@yahoo.fr and also you send to me your private phone,or
mobile numbers for easier correspondence.or you can give me a call on
00229-93 00 32 23. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best
Regards,
Mr Kevin Gbenou

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam