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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (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.
  • +22997152530 (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.
  • barr_johnbest@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3bbarr_johnbest@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN BEST" <john.best3@ig.com.br>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:47:39 +0200
Subject: RE: FROM THE DESK OF HONOURABLE BARRISTER JOHN DOUGLAS.


FROM HOUNORABLE,
BARR.JOHN DOUGLAS BEST.
THE PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY
JOHN BEST LAWFIRMS.
No.1 RUE AVENIDA
COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC.
Emails;barr_johnbest@hotmail.fr <Emails%3Bbarr_johnbest@hotmail.fr>
Telephone; +229 97152530


Dear Friend,

I may not wan't you to be embarrase about my proposal but As a christain
Read carefuly with understanding and get back to me.

I AM BARRISTER JOHN DOUGLAS BEST ,a Legal solicitor at law.I am the personal
attorney to late (Engr.A Abrams ) a foreigner who used to work with TEXACO,
an Oil Servicing Company here in BENIN, and he was the managing Director of
DALLARS CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTAINANCE INC. here in BENIN REPUBLIC and with
its branches at Accra in Ghana and Lome in TOGO Republique.

On the 18th of December 2003, my client, his wife and their only daughter
travelled to their country IRAN on holiday and unfotunantely, they were
involved in an Earthquake which occoured in Bam on the 26th of december 2003
in Iran which claim about 25 thausand lives in the Earthquake .

Since the earthquake I have made several enquiries to locate any of my
clients extended relatives but this proved unsuccessful. I am contacting you
based on the fact that my client deposited one trunk Box that contain US$25
million ($25,000,000.00)and decleared it as a family treasure with a
security company here in Benin Republic of which he handed over the
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT to me as his personal attorney.

However,i also ask him then why he choose to deposit the fund/Box in a
security company rather than bank.

He told me that it was due to political instablity in Benin and that he was
assured by the Manager of the security company that he can claim his
consignment from any of the countries in Europe and Asia where there
Diplomatic imunities covers and for the fact that I have been unsuccesfull
in locating the relatives since the earthquake occoured, I hereby seek your
consent to present you as the relative or the business partner to my late
client, All I want from you is maximum co-operation to enable us make the
claim of these Box to our own benefit.

Please if this proposal gets to you and you are intrested please reply back
to me through my office or personal email addres; barr_johnbest@hotmail.fr


I have all the necessary information that will guide you
to the successful claim of these consignment from the security company and
with your finacial contribution i will help to obtain from the Ministry of
Justic a legal POWER OF ATTORNEY that will make you the beneficary of the
consignment.

I am guaranting you that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement
that will protect you and I to this effect.

NOTE:That we are going to share the fund as follow,50% for me 40%for you
and 10% Will be keept outside for any expencess that will come up dureing
the time of this transaction.
Best regards,
Barr.J. Douglas.
(LLM,LLD,Dipl.Admin)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam