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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "million 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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (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. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +2299387269 (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.
  • oceanincbankplcbenin@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "john simeon" <simeon01@student.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 11:23:02 +0200
Subject: DO FAST AND CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR ATM CARD OCEANIC BANK


INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT,
DIRECTOR,RVE DR MIKE GODWIN
OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC OF BENIN REPUBLIC PLC,
TEL:+229-9387269/+229-+229-93 773462
EMAIL;(oceanincbankplcbenin@yahoo.fr)
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN

Atten,My Friend,

This is to inform you about my success in transfering your money into an
ATM master card to curtail the risk of carrying huge amount of USD$1.2
MILLION DOLLARS
arround.OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC are the people that coded this amount
of USD$1.2 MILLION United State of American Dollars) in the card and they
are going to tell you how to make use of it.Presently i'm out of thecountry
for investing our own part of the total money .

I have arranged with OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC to make your payment to
you with their new ATM MASTER CARD which you can use to withdraw your money
in any ATM MACHINE around the globe.You have to contact the OCEANIC BANK
INTERNATIONAL PLC ATM CARD PAYMENT DEPARTMENT BENIN REPUBLIC.

with your full contact informations such as follows.
1. FULL NAME..............
2.ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD........
3 PHONE AND FAX NUMBER..........
4.YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION...........
5.COPY OF YOUR PICTURE...........
6.YOUR COUNTRY.......................

However, Kindly contact the below person whom is in position to release your
ATM CARD.
Rev Dr.Mike Godwin.
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT, OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC.
MOBILE TEL:+229-9387269/+229-93 773462
EMAIL:...(oceanincbankplcbenin@yahoo.fr)

I have paid for the processing and delivery charges.The only Money that
your are going to pay to them is to obtain the Affidevit Of Onwership from
the Federal High Court Of Benin Republic. Try to contact them as soon as
possible to quicken the processing of your card before your ATM MASTER CARD
attracts demurrage.

Let me know as soon as you receive your Card.
Thanks And Remain bless.
Regard
Barrister Eric Ben

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam