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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
  • "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.
  • +22993007679 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22993697167 (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.
  • internationa.lbank@yahoo.de

Fraud email example:

From: "barrister godwin" <barrister_god_win20@me.by>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:24:03 +0200
Subject: CONTACT REV BENARD IKEM FOR YOUR ATM CARD PAYMENT


*FROM THE DESK OF MINISTRY OF FINANCE BENIN REPUBLIC
ADDRESS: 541,ST RITA ABOMY COTONOU BENIN. REPUBLIC.
Phone; +229 93 697 167
Fax: +229-93 00 7679
Our Ref: BR/102/0005B/06
DATE: 3RD JULY 2008
ATTN SOLE BENEFICIARY,
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT OF ($1.5m) ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES *

*DOLLARS THROUGH SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER ASIA PACIFIC, THIS CARD CENTER
WILL SEND YOU AN ATM *

*CARD WHICH YOU WILL USE TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY
PART OF THE WORLD, BUT *

*THE MAXIMUM IS ONE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS PER DAY. SO
IF YOU LIKE TO *

*RECEIVE YOUR FUND IN THIS WAY,PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY CONTACTING
INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC BENIN ATM *

*PAYMENT DEPARTMENT AND ALSO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS LISTED BELOW
TO THEM.*

*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.ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION*

*HOWEVER, KINDLY CONTACT THE BELOW PERSON WHO IS IN POSITION TO RELEASE YOUR
ATM PAYMENT CARD.
REV DR.BENARD IKEM DIRECTOR,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC BENIN.
EMAIL;internationa.lbank@yahoo.de
MOBILE: +229 93 697 167 *

*THE ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER HAS BEEN MANDATED TO ISSUE OUT YOUR PAYMENT AND
YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY *

*FURTHER COMMINUCATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON(S)
OR OFFICE(s) TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN RECEIVING YOUR PAYMENT.
NOTE THAT BECAUSE OF IMPOSTORS, WE HEREBY ISSUED YOU OUR CODE OF
CONDUCT, WHICH IS (ATM-0411) SO YOU HAVE TO INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN
CONTACTING THE CARD CENTER BY *

*USING IT AS YOUR SUBJECT. REGARDS, *

*BARRISTER GODWIN
SECRETARY MINISTRY OF FINANCE BENIN*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam