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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:
  • "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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "director of operations foreign remittance division" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "foreign remittance division" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:04:15 +0200
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION BENIN FOR YOUR FUND TRANSFER


DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DIVISION ATM
INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC BENIN
WEST AFRICA
Attn dear
Now 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 $4,500,The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will
send you the currently standards track details you need to pick up your
($$4,500
.00) payment by western union, you will receive every day till you receive
the $2.500,000.00 Millions 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 administrator trust funds have
already signed your payment, now you are free to comply with wemaco payment
office on this email: (westunionmoneytransfer@live.com)
However, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your
payment by western union per $4,500.00 a day.
DR.JAMES MARK
western union department
Financial Bank Benin,
E-mail: (westunionmoneytransfer@live.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 need this details from you to process
your payment:
Receiver name----------
Country----------------
City--------------------
Tel----------------------
Test question-----------
Answer---------------
Comply with Dr.James Mark now because as soon as you sent this required
details to him he will start sending your payment by western union
Regards to you and your family ,
Thanks and be bless .
BARR.LEONARD HASEED
THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DIVISION

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam