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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
  • +22993693574 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "j32billburnett Gazeta.pl" <j32billburnett@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 00:43:01 +0200
Subject: CONTACT ATLANTIC BANK BENIN FOR YOUR ATM CARD


Good day,
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your bank draft
but did not hear from you since then I went and deposited the Draft with
Atlantic Bank Plc here in Benin Republic, because I will not come back till
end of my leave. I have arranged with them to make your payment to you with
their new ATM mastercard which you can use to withdraw your money in any ATM
machine around the globe.

You have to contact the Atlantic Bank Plc with your full contact information
such as follows.
1. FULL NAME
2. ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
3 PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION
However, Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your
ATM CARD.
MR. MICHEAL SHAIBU
DIRECTOR,
ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT
ATLANTIC BANKPLC BENIN
MOBILE: +229 93 693 574
EMAIL: csd009atlanticbk@live.fr

I have paid for the processing and delivery charges.The only money that you
are going to pay them is $320 US Dollars which they will use to obtain the
Affidavit Of Ownership from the Federal High Court of Benin Republic.Others
paid. Try to contact them as soon as possible to hasten the processing of
your card before your draft expire. Let me know as soon as you receive your
card.
Thanks and God Bless
Bill Burnett

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam