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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:

• 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:
  • "million 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)
• 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.
  • +22997139600 (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.
  • mrleopius@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Leo Pius" <mrleopius2@mail.mn>
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 10:18:33 -0800
Subject: HELLO


Hello Sir,

I am Mr Leo Pius personal Assistant to the Branch Manage, Bank Of Africa
(BOA) OTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC.

I want to inquire from you if you can handle a transaction of mutual
benefits for both of us.The transaction is about seeking your consent to
present you as the next of kin/ beneficiary of 7.5Million dollars belonging
to a deceased customer of the Bank where i work.

The bank gave me assignment to look for relatives of this deceased customer
but after rigorous research even through their high commission,their
relatives could not be traced.

This has shown that he resided completed in Benin Republic with his entire
family and also died in plan crash with his entire family.

As his former account office,i have decided to contact you to enable us
corporate and pull out this money to your foreign bank account for
investment.I have all the required information from his file and will ready
to provide it to aid and facilitate the claim.

I will give you more details about the transaction when I receive your
response.PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH THIS ALTERNATIVE MAIL:(
mrleopius@excite.com

Thanks

Mr Leo Pius.
+229 97139600

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam