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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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. )
  • "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.
  • +22997527489 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22993158987 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • john_finacialminister@yahoo.fr
  • westernunionoffice205@yahoo.it

Fraud email example:

From: "john duncan" <johnduncan2@klikni.cz>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 10:37:34 +0200
Subject: URGENT DEVELOPMENT


FROM THE DESK OF DR JOHN DUNCAN
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF. FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.FORGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT
OFFICE.
TEL +229-97 52 74 89 FAX+229-93-475-882.
MY PRIVATE EMAIL: john_finacialminister@yahoo.fr

Attention Beneficiary:

The Board of federal ministry of finance benin republic. are here to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of $850 thousand dollars . after the
meeting held on 28th of March 2008. His Exelence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF BENIN DR YAYEE BONI. has Instructed this Department to send
your funds through western union money transfer for easier receive of your
inherinted funds without any further delay. to avoid paying money to the
fraud stars that is going on through the global.

You are required to send your name and address were you want your fund to be
send through western union the maximium amount you will be receiving each
day starting from tomorrow is the sum of $7000.00. also you are required to
send the sum of $148 dollar for Re-newing and recofirming file that was
deposited in the office with your name and address bellow .

Beneficiarey name----------------------------
Address--------------------------------
Tel phone-----------------------------

Contact The Western Union Office with this informations below:
CONTACT PERSON: Mr Carlson Obumu
TEL: +229 93 15 89 87 .
EMAIL: westernunionoffice205@yahoo.it


As soon the required fee of $148 is send today for the renewing reconfirming
the payment file of your funds you will start receiving your funds as from
tomorrow.Contact Mr Carlson for the informations where to send the $148
today. Please if you are not the real beneficiary dont respond or delite

Yours in service
Dr John Duncan
Financial Minister
Federal republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam