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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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • +22997444586 (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.
  • otitidoutapy@gawab.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "odt_06 Gazeta.pl" <odt_06@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 10:55:28 +0200
Subject: Do Reply & Call Me,Tel:+229 97444586.


FROM THE DESK OF MR. OTITI DOU TAPY
( MANAGER OF AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING DEPT)
BANK OF AFRICA (BOA)
AVENUE JEAN-PAUL 11, COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA.
PRIVATE TEL: +229 97-44-45-86.

Dear Friend,

How are you today and your family? this message might meet you in utmost
surprise however,do read it carefully and get back to me nomatter what your
decision maybe.

I am Mr Otiti Dou Tapy ,accountant and auditor general of ''BANK OF AFRICA''
here in cotonou the Republic of Benin. I wish to know if we can work
together. I would like you to stand as the next of kin to our deceased
client Late Engr J.C MIDO, who made a fixed deposit of Seven Million Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars (USD$7.5m) to our bank.

He died along with his entire family on 25th December 2003 In a plane crash
here In Cotonou the Republic Benin, Since we got information about his
death, I have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his
money because the management cannot release it unless somebody applies for
it as the next of kin or a relation to the deceased as indicated in our
banking guidelines, because it was stated in our banking rules and
regulations which was signed lawfully that if such fund remains unclaimed
till the period of 5 years started from the date when the beneficiary died,
the money will be transferred into the bank treasury as an unclaimed fund.


As the deceased account officer, I decided to track His last name over the
Internet, to see if i can locate any member of his Family hence I contacted
you, I have contacted you to see if you can assist in repatriating the money
left behind by the deceased customer before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank, Since you are from thesame country with the
deceased customer you can easyly make this deal with me

On the smooth conclusion of the transaction, i will give you 40 % of the
total amount as gratification, 60% will be for me. It is important that we
agree on this before we start.

view the website:
*www.iafpa.org.uk/news-template.php?t=4&id=1291*<http://www.iafpa.org.uk/news-template.php?t=4&id=1291>

All I require from you is your trust and honest cooperation to enable us
sees this transaction through,do get back to me if you are interested
through my private email address at: otitidoutapy@gawab.com I will be
waiting to hear from you, please reply with your direct telephone number for
easy communication.

Best Regards,

Mr Otiti D. Tapy.
Tel: +229 97-44-45-86.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam