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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22993941053 (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.
  • hadidatristan@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3ahadidatristan@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "tristan hadida" <mrtristanhadida2@unimail.mn>
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:28:19 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend


FROM DESK OF:MR TRISTAN HADIDA
STANDARD TRUST BANK OF BENIN
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
WEST AFRICA.
TEL:+229-9394-1053
Reply To This My Private
Email:hadidatristan@yahoo.com<Email%3Ahadidatristan@yahoo.com>

Dear Friend,

I am Mr Tristan Hadida, the director in charge of auditing and accounting
section of Standard trust bank of Benin cotonou Republic of Benin in West
Africa with due respect and regard. I have decided to contact you on a
business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end
of the transaction .

During our investigation and auditing in this bank,my department came across
a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died in
(beirut-bound charter jet) plane crash on the 25th December 2003 here in
cotonou (replublic of benin) and since his untimely death the funds has been
dormant in his account with this Bank without any claim of the fund in our
custody either from his family or relation before our discovery to this
development.You shall read more news about the crash on visiting this site
which I got during my investigation;

(http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html).

Although personally, I keep this information secret within myself and
partners to enable the whole plans and idea be Profitable and successful
during the time of execution. The said amount was US$18.1M(Eighteen million
One Hundred Thousand united states dollars).

Please, you have been adviced to keep this a top secret as we are still in
service and intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with
you.
I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm
the money in your account and ask us to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice us
to invest in.
All other necessary information will be sent to you on your acceptance to
champion this transaction with me.

Reply To This My Private
Email:hadidatristan@yahoo.com<Email%3Ahadidatristan@yahoo.com>

I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible on my personal email
address stating your wish in this deal.

Yours faithfully,
Mr Tristan Hadida.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam