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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:

• 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. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • +22993744668 (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.
  • financeministery@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • drleezentafinanceministery@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Lee Zenta" <dr.leezenta@gala.net>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 12:57:46 +0200
Subject: FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.


* FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FORGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.
TEL +229-93 74 46 68 FAX+229-93-475-882.
MY PRIVATE EMAIL:
financeministery@gmail.com<http://us.f656.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=drleezentafinanceministery@gmail.com>
<http://us.f656.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?DMid=3745_2679300_349767_417_0_0_10542_-1_0&YY=74895&y5beta=yes&y5beta=yes&inc=200&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b&box=Draft>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Custormers Service Hours--Monday To Saturday:Office Hours Monday To
Saturday:

Dear Client ,

The Board of federal ministry of finance benin republic. are here to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of $2.8 MILLION. after the meeting held
on 28th of Febuary 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 and money gram 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 $14000.00. $7000.00 from western
union $7000.00 from money gram also your are required to send to us the sum
of $148 dollar immedaitely for newing and recofirming file that was
deposited in this office with your name and address bellow .

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

Contact Dr. ZENTA with this informations below:
CONTACT PERSON: DR. LEE M. ZENTA
TEL: +229 93 744 668.
EMAIL: financeministery@gmail.com<http://us.f656.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=drleezentafinanceministery@gmail.com>

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.

Send the $148 dollar through western union with the name and address below:

Receiver name--------- MR.OYIBOR E. CHUKWUMA
City---------COTONOU
Country-------------------BENIN REPUBLIC
Test Question---------------HONEST
Test Answer-----------------TRUST
Amount------------------------$145.00
Mtcn;.................................................
The Name of the sender..........................
We await to receive the western union payment informations today. Please if
you a are not the real beneficiary dont repond or delite

Yours in service
Dr. Lee Zenta
Finance Ministery
Federal republic of Benin
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam