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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:
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "transfer of your funds" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +22993805844 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: tmorris@freenet.de
Date: Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:35:22 +0200
Subject: Attention: BENEFICIARY


Attention: BENEFICIARY
Compliments of the season, I am Mr.Steve Bruno,
a Branch manager of Bank of Africa in Littoral municipal town in Benin
Republic,There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER office
in the amount of $1,200.000.00 USD directed in cash credited to file
KTU/9023BOA, at the owner of this email address. The INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago
due to your allocated security code.
They said that they choose to send
it to an email address instead of a name. We are unable to complete a
transfer directed at an email address, so we require some more
information in order to complete this transfer.

1, Full
Names............
2, Address...........
3, Country..................
4,
Occupation...............
5, Position Held...............
6, Cell/
Telephone Number......
7, Copy your ID for easy identification.....
In
order to resolve this problem,please email us via Western Union
Solicitors Fund Verification Department Benin: (
western_union121@live.fr )
As soon as this information is received,and
you have complied with the requirements of payment of the western union
charges $105, payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at
the counter directly from TheWestern Union Transfering Bank.
Management
of Western Union Money Transfer Head Office and our Motto is To Serve
You Better.Contact us on our website on www.westernunion.co.uk also
note that you would be responsible for any payment that is needed for
the transfer of your funds into your nominated bank account or at the
counter directly from the Western Union Transferring Bank.
VIEW THE
ATTARCHMENT
THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER,HEAD
OFFICE.
DISPATCHED THIS DAY
Sincerely,
Mr.Steve Bruno.
Contact,
western_union121@live.fr
Phone:+229 9380
5844
www.westernunion.co.uk
Western Union Payments
Send Money
Worldwide.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam