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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:

• 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)
  • "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. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993128422 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "file office" <officefile011@norilsk.biz>
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 19:59:31 +0200
Subject: ATTENTION!!!


*ATTENTION!!!*
* *
*I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank
Draft but did not heard from you since that time then I went and deposited
the Draft with Intercontiental Bank Plc here in Benin Republic, because I
travelled to Japan to see my boss and will not come back till next month
end. I have arranged with them to make your payment to you with their new
ATMMASTER CARD which you can use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE
around the globe. You have to contact the Intercontiental Bank
Plc 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. ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION................However, Kindly contact
the

below person who is in position to release yourATM CARD.
REV DR.JOHNSON WILLIAMS DIRECTOR,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT INTERCONTIENTAL BANK
MOBILE: :+229-9312 84 22
EMAIL: (**intercontiental@msn.com* <intercontiental@msn.com>*) I have paid
for the processing and delivery charges.The only Money that your are going
to pay to them is only $96 Dollars which they will use 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 draft gets Expired.Let me know as soon
as you receive your Card.*
* *
*Regard,*
* *
*Mr Stephen Nathanael*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam