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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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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • +22993894157 (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.
  • paymentoffice.westernunion@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mike.morris111 Gazeta.pl" <mike.morris111@gazeta.pl>
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:10:54 +0200
Subject: Contact Payment Office Immediately.


To The Attention Of Beneficiary;

The Board of federal ministry of finance benin republic are hereby to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of ($800.000 Usd) after the meeting held
on 2nd of June 2008. His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
BENIN (DR YAYI BONI) has Instructed this Department to send your funds
through western union money transfer for easy receive of your inherinted
funds without any further delay to avoid paying money to the fraud stars
that is going on through Courier Company.

You are required to send your name and address to our Payment Office where
you want your fund to be send through Western Union. The maximium amount you
will be receiving per a day starting from tomorrow is $6000.00) Also your
are required by this Department for Re-newing and Re-cofirming Of your file
Charges of ($98.00) dollar which was deposited in this office with your name
and address bellow .
Beneficiarey name--------------
Address------------------------
Tel phone----------------------
For further procedure Contact our payment officer with the information
below;

Attention; Mr Drazzell Benben.
Western Union Benin
Republic Manager
Tel; +229-93894157.
Email;( paymentoffice.westernunion@gmail.com )


Try to fill the Above Informations where to start sending the money Because
As soon the required fee of $98 .00 received today for the renewing &
reconfirming the payment file of your funds you will start receiving your
funds as from tomorrow in amount of $6000.00 Dollars like we stated above.
Yours in service
DR. MIKE MORRIS.
Western Union Benin
Republic Manager

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam