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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • louishammed@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "louis hammed" <louishammed@mail.mn>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 09:11:43 -0700
Subject: PERSONAL LETTER


PERSONAL LETTER

AVOCATE LOUIS HAMMED
01 BP 441, Cotonou,
Republique du Benin
Telephone: +229 -93908735 Email: louishammed@gmail.com

Attn:Dear Friend,


Compliments,I am Barrister Louis Hammed,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 Engineer. P. B.Corcoran, who was a contractor here in Benin Rep.He
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 Banque Internationale Dubenin S.A 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.
And the way we are going to achieve this is I will need the following
information from you,

Your Full Name and Address,
Your Age,
Occupation and Position,
Your Telephone and Mobile for Communication Purpose.
For privacy reply to my private Email: louishammed@gmail.com
I await your reply ASAP.

Best Regards,
Barister Louis Hammed .

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam