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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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:
  • "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.
  • +22993132476 (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.
  • finacialpayment@yahoo.com.br
  • westernunion0119@yahoo.com.br
  • westernunion0118@yahoo.com.br

Fraud email example:

From: "finacialpayment Gazeta.pl" <finacialpayment@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 20:25:02 +0200
Subject: RECEIVE YOUR FUND FROM WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER


FROM DESK OF Brown Beko.
finacialpayment@yahoo.com.br .
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.

Email: finacialpayment@yahoo.com.br
Attn: Beneficiary

The Board of federal ministry of finance benin republic. are here to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of $3.5MILLION. after the meeting held
on 28th of Febuary 2008. His Exelence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
BENIN DR YAYI 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. So contact western union money transfer with this
infomation bellow .

Mr MARTIN J. MARK
Westen Union Agent
Federal republic of Benin
Western Union Payments
Email Address ,westernunion0119@yahoo.com.br
Email Address, westernunion0118@yahoo.com.br
Phone +22993132476

Let me know immediately you start receiving your fund .
Mr Brown Beko
Fedral Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam