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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• 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.
  • +22993900173 (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.
  • oceanicbankmailbox@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "jpeters Gazeta.pl" <jpeters@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 02:19:39 +0200
Subject: YOU HAVE WON $1.5M COMPENSATION AWARD


ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES
[ECOWAS] BENIN REPUBLIC / PRIZE AWARD DEPT
Lot 415 Rue du Révérend Père Colineau 01 BP:955
Recette Principale Cotonou
PRIZE AWARD DEPT. REF No: 9590 ES 9414
BATCH No: 573881545-NL/2008
TICKET No:PP 3502 /8707-01
(FOR CATEGORY "A" WINNER ONLY)
www.loteria.es

ATTN: WINNER.

We the above named organization in conjuction with Euro Millions Lottery
Promotions wishes to congratulate you over your email success in our
computer balloting sweepstake held in May 12th 2008 in Cotonou Benin
Republic. This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email
addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging
internet users,Therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. You
have been approved for the second prize winner of ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND EUROS (1,500,000.00 Eur).

To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent as soon
as possible for the immediate release of your winnings,You must contact the
claims agent with below information for your claim

1. Full Names:
2. Address:
3. Age:
4. Sex:
5. Marital Status:
6. Occupation:
7. Phone numbers:
8. Country:

Note.Your winning will be loaded in ATM MASTER CARD from Oceanic Bank Plc
world wide. it was agreed that you will send to them the sum of 185 United
States Dollars Only for the processing of your master card. The Validity
period of the winnings is 31 working days hence you are expected to make
your claims immediately, any claim not made before this date will be
returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA. So Try to contact them and ask them
how you will send the $185 to receive your ATM card, contact them as soon as
possible to quicken the processing of your card before your winning gets
Expired .

CONTACT DETAILS!!!
Contact Person: Mark Taylor.
Oceanic Bank Building, Planta 1A
28807 Benin Republic.
PHONE: +229 93 900 173
E-MAIL: oceanicbankmailbox@yahoo.fr

Yours truly,

James K. Peters
Promotion Manager.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Copyright 1994-2008 The Euromilliones National Lottery Inc.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam