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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:

• 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. )
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  • +22993177670 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: OFFICE FLIES<officeflies@freenet.de>
Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:22:24 +0200
Subject: Recive your $1,200 000.00 Payment.


Attn: Dear Beneficiary,

I want to inform you regards to the final
conclusion of transfer your fund (US$1.2million) by the Board of Federal
Ministry of Finance Benin republic, has Instructed (PAYMENT HEAD OFFICE
) to send your funds (US$1.2million) to you through Western Union Money
Transfer for easier receive of your inherited/Compensation funds without
any further delay and to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is
going on through the global due to Insurance certificate,clearance
certificate and the others.

The maximum amount you will be receiving
each day starting from the any moment you have contacted them is the sum
of $7,000.00 US Dollars per day, also your are required to send them the
sum of $298.dollars for Re-newing and Approval of your fund payment file
that was deposited in their office.

Be advised to send the Payment head
Office the below information listed where you want them to send the
fund to you per day:
Name Beneficiary:
Beneficiary Address:
Beneficiary
Tele phone number:

Contact the payment head office with their below
information:
CONTACT PERSON: HON/MR:USSANA BENLLORD.
EMAIL:
benllord4world@live.fr
TELE-PHONE NUMBER : +229-931-776-70.

Be informed
as soon as you send the payment head office the required fee of $298 for
the Re-newing and approval of your payment file that was deposited there
on your behalf by the Federal Ministry Of Finance Benin, they will be
starting sending your fund immediately to you without any further delay
and you will start receiving your fund every day $7,000.00 until your
total payment ($1.2 million) United States Dollars is
finished.

Finally, kindly let me know as soon as you Started receiven
your money.

Yours in service
MR TONNY MORRIS
Finance Minister
Federal
Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam