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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "into your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +22997933530 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22997936805 (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.
  • westernunionmoneytransfer1970@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "tommy jack" <barrjack14@gala.net>
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 15:03:12 +0200
Subject: CONTACT US VERY VERY FAST FOR YOUR FUNDS TRANSFER.


CONTACT US VERY VERY FAST FOR YOUR FUNDS TRANSFER.


ATTN: BENEFICIARY,

There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of
$1.3Million USD directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03, at the
owner of this email address. The INTERNATIONALMONETARY FUND contacted us for
your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.

They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a
name. We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an emailaddress,
so we require some more information in order to complete this transfer.


Contact person Name: Mr George Johnson
Telephone.......+229-979-335-30 / +229-979-368-05
Email Address: westernunionmoneytransfer1970@yahoo.co.uk

FULL NAME:...............................
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:.............................
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:.............................
OCCUPATION:.....................................
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:..................
ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION


In order to resolve this problem,please email via Western Union
Solicitors Fund Verification Department:
westernunionmoneytransfer1970@yahoo.co.uk
As soon as this information is received,and you have complied with the
requirements of payment of the western union charges $105.00 Only payment
will
be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from The
Western Union Transfering Bank within 24Hrs received.

Note: That this is not one of those Nigerian/African scams that all
they are after is to ripe you off your money and at the end you wil not
receive your funds, but note that this is no scam and is directly from the
Management of Western Union Money Transfer United Kingdom Head Office and
our
Motto is To Serve You Better.
Contact us on our website on www.westernunion.co.uk

also note that you would be responsible for any payment that is needed for
the
transfer of your funds into your nominated bank account or at the
counter directly
from the Western Union Transferring Bank.

THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, UNITED KINGDOM HEAD OFFICE.
DISPATCHED THIS DAY

Sincerely,

Tommy Jack.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam