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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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.
• 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.
  • +447024081207 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • westernunion.co.uk@fsmail.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Money Transfer <westernunion.co.uk@fsmail.net>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 17:30:08 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Western Union - URGENT NOTICE !.


Dear VICTIMNAME VICTIMNAME,
There is an issue with the Western Union Money Transfer in the amount of $37,500.00 directed at the owner of this email address. The sender chose 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.
You are required to provide confirmation of the following:
- The name in which you wish to receive this transfer;
- The Western Union office you would like the transfer delivered to.
In order to resolve this problem, please email our office at: westernunion.co.uk@fsmail.net or call: 44-702-408-1207 with the required information and we will release the money and provide you with the MTCN number for your onward collection.
We look forward to solving your problem and having your funds released to you shortly.
Regards,

Mark Harrison
Customer Service Manager
Western Union
Level 25
Thomas Loyd Building
265 Rotherhithe Street,
London, SE16 5HW United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam