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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:
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:59:48 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: pick up your ($5,000) payment by western union


ATTENTION
we have arranged your payment of ($2.5millions) two millions five hundred thousand united state dollars in atm payment card to be sent to you through western union money transfer payment, Your payment will sending to you by western union, the amount you will receive per day is $5,000 The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently standards track details you need to pick up your ($5,000) payment by western union, you will receive every day till you receive the $2.5millions united state dollars, now no need to send you this atm card because you can not be able to withdraw the atm card due to the atm master card contain large money on it.
 
The director administrtor trust funds have already signed your payment, now you are free to comply with wemaco payment office on this email: (western.uniondepartment1978@live.fr) however, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your payment by western union per $5,000 a day.

Mr Michelle Williams,
western union department
Financial Bank Benin,
E-mail:(western.uniondepartment1978@live.fr)
 
The financial western union payment canter has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop any further  ommunication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment. Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to process your payment:

Receiver name-----------------
Country-----------------------
City--------------------------
Tel---------------------------
Test question-----------------
Answer------------------------
sex___________________________
age___________________________
ID____________________________
Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Mr Michelle Williams he will start sending your payment by western union
Regards,
 
Barrister,  MIKE TONI
 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam