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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:

• 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. )
  • "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.
  • +22993097088 (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.
  • westernuniondirector007@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "ANDDY VAINA" <anddyvaina1@ig.com.br>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:51:50 +0200
Subject: YOUR FUND IS RELEASED CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELLY.


Attn: Beneficiary,

The Board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic. Are here to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of $1.3 Million ($1,300.000.00), after
the meeting held on 28th of February 2008. His Excellence 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 transfer of
your inherited 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 maximum amount you will be receiving each
day starting from tomorrow is the sum of $7000.00. Also you are required to
send us the sum of $196 Dollar for Renewing and reconfirming file that was
deposited in this office with your name and address bellow.

Beneficiary name ----------------------------
Country -------------------------------------
Address --------------------------------
Tel phone -----------------------------

Contact them with this information's below:
CONTACT PERSON: PROF. DERRICK ANNAH.
DIRECTOR.
TEL: +229 9309 7088
EMAIL: westernuniondirector007@yahoo.fr

As soon the required fee of $196 is send today for the renewing reconfirming
the payment file of your funds you will start receiving your funds as from
tomorrow.
Send the $196 dollar through western union with the name and address below:

Receiver name ----------Igweze Samuel
Country-------------------Benin
Test Question---------------Colour
Test Answer-----------------White
Amount------------------------$196.00
MTCN-------------------------

We await to receive the western union payment information's today. Please if
you a are not the real beneficiary don't respond or delete

Yours in service,
Mrs. Vaina Anddy.
Financial Minister
Federal Republic of Benin.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam