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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:
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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:
  • "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.
  • +22993697787 (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.
  • unitednationsbenrep@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "office file" <officefile_010@legwork.com.ng>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:02:05 +0200
Subject: UNITED NATIONS/WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME PAYMENT NOTIFICATION.


*UNITED NATIONS
(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
870 UNITED NATIONS B PLAZA 20-A
NEW YORK, 10017 USA.*


*WIRE TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT*

*Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX027*

*Attn: Beneficiary, *

*RE: IRREVOCABLE RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT*

*We have actually been authorized by the presidency of African Union/West
African Countries and the governing board of commercial Banks of
Cotonou-Republic Du Benin to investigate the un-necessary delay of your
payment, recommended and approve your claims for payment if certified as
genuine.*

*During the course of our investigation, we discovered with dismay that your
payment has been un-necessarily delayed by corrupted governmental officials
of the Bank who are trying to divert your money into their private accounts,
to forestall this, security for your funds was organized in the form of your
personal identification number (PIN) and your Transfer Access Code (T.A.C),
this will enable only you have direct control over this fund, we have also
agreed with the presidency that we will handle this payment ourselves
through our oversea paying Bank Barclays Bank of London to avoid the
hopeless situation created by the officials of the West African Banks.*

*We obtained an irrevocable payment guarantee on your payment from the
presidency and we are happy to inform you that based on our recommendation,
instructions. Your entire Inherittance/contract funds has been credited in
your favour through our overseas paying Bank.*

*You are therefore advised to contact REV. LAZAROW MARTIN GEOFFREY DIRECTOR
International Audit unit, United Nations Liaison Office Cotonou, Republic Du
Benin On TEL: +229 936 977 87 OR E MAIL:
**unitednationsbenrep@yahoo.fr*<unitednationsbenrep@yahoo.fr>
* to collect your original Payment Slip with your PIN and Transfer Access
Code.*

*As soon as you submit these codes and your Payment Slip to your Bank they
will credit your account without delay. NOTE: YOU ARE ADVISED TO FURNISH
REV. LAZAROW MARTIN WITH YOUR CORRECT CONTACT AND BANKING DETAILS TO AVOID
TRANSFER OF THIS FUNDS INTO A WRONG ACCOUNT.*

*We expect your urgent response to this e-mail to enable us monitor this
payment
effectively.*

*CONGRATULATIONS.*

*CAPT. JAMES C. WILLIAMS
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK.*

*This email is intended for the above named recipient only. If you have
received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately, by returning
all pages to the address of the sender above.*

* *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam