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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
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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:

• 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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 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.
  • fedrickaninih@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICHEAL UTOBO" <michealutobo10@ig.com.br>
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 14:12:02 +0100
Subject: THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT AND CONTAVT MY SECRETARY IMMEDIATELY.


*Barr. Micheal Utobo.
Dumfries DG14NN,
South West London,
United Kingdom.*

*My Dear Friend,*

*I am Barr. Micheal Utobo who contacted you early last year over the
abandoned estate of my late client Mr. Rogers W. Kent that worth
$12.7MILLION in cash. It's my pleasure to inform you that I successfully
retrieved the Estate (USD$12.7M) from the bank where it was deposited.*

*After waiting a long while to read from you and I didn't hear from you, I
then contacted another trustworthy Partner (Mr.Clement Williams) from
United Kingdom. He assisted me to claim the fund and it was transferred
into his bank account in London, UK.*

*I have consequently joined Mr. Williams in London to invest my share of
the money in juicy Estates and stocks. The address above is my new address
in London.*

*Nevertheless, I didn't forget your past efforts, at least I used your name
to start the Claims process with the bank. But you could not participate
actively because of circumstances beyond your control. So, since it is no
fault of yours I hold nothing against you.*

*Therefore, in appreciation of your little effort I have raised an
International Bank Draft of US$1,000,000.00 (One million **United States
Dollars only) in your favor as compensation to you for using your name
during the Claims process or you can receive the compensation fund through
a bank transfer by arranging with my secretary.*

*Now contact my Confidential Secretary Mr.Fedrick Aninih via his e-mail
address and ask him to send the Bank Draft to you. Bear in mind that the
money is in Bank draft, not cash. Therefore you will need to send to him
your full names, current telephones and your mailing address where the
draft will be delivered to you.*

*Finally, I left explicit instructions with Mr.Fedrick Aninih to send he
BANK DRAFT to you by Courier immediately you contact him. Below is his
contact information:*

*Mr.Fedrick Aninih
Scretary,First Cross Chambers.
Rue du Gouverneur Bayol,
021 BP 1480, Cotonou
Cotonou - Benin Rep.
E-ID: **fedrickaninih@yahoo.fr*<http://us.mc567.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=fedrickaninih@yahoo.fr>

*Warm regards,*

*Barr. Micheal Utobo.
Chairman,First Cross Chambers.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT
AND CONTAVT MY SECRETARY IMMEDIATELY.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam