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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "money transfer control number" (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. )
• 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.
  • +447024043223 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: PATRICK JOOP <b.bussard@tramapack.com>
Reply-To: westernunion_moneytransfer@strompost.org
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:26:26 +0200
Subject: PAYMENT OF YOUR FUNDS.

Attn:

We Received your funds here in our office to be transfer to you through
the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER,by Dr Williams Cole. We formally inform
you to provide us with your current new postal address to reconfirm by our
transfer crew so as to enhance quick transfer to you,confirmation of the
Address is being certified in our DATA-BASE,Certified funds of £
710,000.00 issued by Dr Williams Cole.

What you have to do now is to contact WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER as soon
as possible to know when they will transfer your funds to you because of
the expiring date. For your information we have paid for the western union
Charge Insurance premium. The only money you will send to the WESTERN UNION
MONEY TRANSFER to transfer your funds direct to you through western union
office in your country.Again don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other
money except £ 150.00 for the Security Keeping Fee.

You will pay the Security Keeping Fee of £150.00 so that we can send your
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER INFORMATION to collect your funds in any
nearest Western Union Office in your Country as soon as possible.

Finally make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct
telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the transfer your
funds and ask them to give you the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) to
enable collect your funds in the WESTERN UNION OFFICE in your Country.

Let us repeat again try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail
to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security keeping
fee of £150.00 for their immediate action.

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SCAM BECAUSE YOUR FUNDS IS PENDING WITH THE WESTERN
UNION OFFICE IN UK TO BE COLLECT BY YOU.IF YOU MAKE YOUR PAYMENT YOUR FUNDS
WILL BE TRANSFER TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Thanks as you contact them today.

Yours Faithfully
Managing Director
WESTERN UNION MONERY TRANSFER OFFICE
#1 Gresham Street London EC2V 7NG
Email address: westernunion_moneytransfer@strompost.org
TEL :+447024043223
:+447024080684
:+447024062388
:+447023064779

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam