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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
  (+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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "affidavit " (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.
  
• 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.
  • +22993109252 (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.
  • wpaymentoffice36@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "douss samuel" <dousssamuel2@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:32:42 +0100
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION FOR YOUR PAYMENT OF $2.7Million


Attn:My Dear,

Now we have arranged your payment of ($2.7Million) two million seven 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 $7,000.The minister trust
funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently standards track details
you need to pick up your ($7,000) payment by western union, you will receive
every two days till youreceive the total fund of ($2.7Million) united state
dollars,now no need to send you this atm card because you can not be able to
withdrawthe atm card due to the atm master card contain large money on it.

The only fee you have to send them is $125 usd that they will use to obtain
insurance transfer and claims of affidavit that will prove that the parcel
that contain the total sum of ($2.7Million) belong to you be rest assure
that all o
ther fees have been paid by me.

The director administrator trust funds have already signed your payment, now
you are free to comply with western union payment office on this email: (
wpaymentoffice36@gmail.com ) however, kindly contact the below person who
is in position to release your payment by western union per $7,000 a day.
Try and send them the fee of $125 usd immediately to enable them send your
fund ok.

Mr Johnson Mattson
western union department
Financial Bank Benin
Mobile: +229 93 109-252
E-mail: wpaymentoffice36@gmail.com

The financial western union payment canter has been mandated to issue out
your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other
person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment. Note
that the
administrator payment needs these details from you to process your payment:

Receiver name-------
Country-------
City--------
Tel------
Test question----
Answer------
Your picture id.....
Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Mr Johnson
Mattson he will start sending your payment by western union

Regards,
Mr Douss Samuel

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam