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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "required fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• 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.
  • +22997374132 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR John Hill man" <MRJohnHillman@mail.md>
Reply-To: <mrfrankobumu01@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:27:35 -0600
Subject: RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT THROUGH WESTERN UNION


FROM THE DESK OF MR JOHN HILL MAN
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.
TEL +229-97374132 FAX+229-93-202-545.
Email:mrfrankobumu01@live.fr


Attn: Dear Beneficiary,


I want to inform you regards to the final conclusion of transfer your fund
(US$1.8million) by the Board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin
Republic, has Instructed (Western Union Office) to send your funds
(US$1.8 million) to you through Western Union Money Transfer for easier
receive of your inherited funds without any further delay and to avoid
paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through the global.

The maximum amount you will be receiving each day starting from the any
moment you have contacted them is the sum of $7,000.00 US Dollars per
day, also your are required to send them the sum of $298.00 dollars for
Re-newal and Re-confirming your fund payment file that deposited in their
office.

Be advised to send the Western Union Office the below information listed
where you want them to send the fund to you per day:

Name Beneficiary:..................
Your Full Address:..................
Your Currently Telphone:..........


Contact office with their below information:
CONTACT PERSON: FRANK HUBERT OBUMU.
EMAIL: mrfrankobumu01@live.fr
TEL: +229-96-13-04-12

Be informed as soon as you send the western union office the required fee
of $298.00 for the Re-newing and Re-confirming of your payment file was
deposited there on your behalf by the Federal Ministry Of Finance Benin,
they will be starting sending your fund immediately to you without any
further delay and you will start receiving your fund every day $7,000.00
until your total payment ($1.8 million) United States Dollars is finished.

Finally, kindly let me know as soon as you have contacted them and send
the money to them.

Thanks for your understanding and God bless you.

Yours in service


MR John Hill man
Finance Minister
Federal Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam