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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• 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.

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • +22993110188 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Klich Chapman" <klich102bc@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kbchap999@live.fr
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:59:19 +0100
Subject: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT BENIN.


OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
FROM THE DESK OF HON. (DR) KLICH B. CHAPMAN
FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX,
SENADE COTONOU,
REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN,
WEST AFRICA.


Attention Your Honour,
PAYMENT RELEASE

I am Hon. (Dr) Klich Ballack Chapman, Minister Foreign Affairs Ministry; my
office monitors and controls the affairs of all banks and financial
institutions in Benin and around West Africa concerned with foreign
contract/Inheritance payments. I am the final signatory to any transfer or
remittance of huge funds moving within banks both on the local and
international levels in line to foreign Contracts/Inheritance settlement.

I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to some
nominated bank accounts as these accounts have been identified either as
ghost accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc. I write to
present you to the Federal Executive Council that you are amongst the people
expecting their funds to be transferred into their account, on this note; I
wish to have a deal with you as regards to the unpaid certified
contract/Inheritance funds.

I have every files before me and the datas will be to change to your name to
enable you receive an outstanding amount that is ready into your designated
bank account as the beneficiary of the said fund (US$15.5 Million Dollars).
As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the
Federal Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits, I had the
opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received 2 days ago
from the Senate Committee on Contract/inheritance Payments /Foreign Debts to
submit the List of payment reports / expenditures and audited reports of
revenues. Among several others, I have decided to remit this sum following
my idea that we have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally.

MY CONDITIONS.

1. You will give me 30% of this funds as soon as you confirm it in your
designated bank account.
2. This deal must be kept personal and secret forever, and all
correspondence will be
strictly by email /telephone at moment for security purposes.
3. There should be no third party as most problems associated with several
delay of the payment release in the past are caused by agents or illegal
representatives which might have worked on the payment file.

If you AGREE with my conditions, l will advise you on what to do immediately
and the transfer will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your
name on the Payment schedule instantly to meet the payment mandate.

Try and call me on receipt of my message while I await for your prompt
reply.

Regards,

Hon. (Dr) Klich Ballack Chapman
PAYMENT DIRECTOR.
Phone: +22993110188

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam