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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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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. )
  • "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.
  • +22993914382 (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.
  • www.western_union_dept76@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:23:34 +0200
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION URGENT PAYMENT.


Attn; Beneficary,

The management and control of all finances of the Government as prescribed
by the constitution of the country is the responsibility of the Ministry of
Finance to handle all foreign arias/debts.

The Board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic are here to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of (US$2.5,000.000 USD After the meeting

held on 28th of SEPTEMBER 2008. His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF BENIN Has instructed this Department to send your funds to
you through WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER for easier receive of your
inherited funds without any further delay.

To avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through the
global or fraud stars Bankers, you are required to send your name and
address were you want your fund to be send through WESTERN UNION.
The maximum amount you will be receiving each day starting from
tomorrow is the sum of US$5500.00.

In order to resolve this problem,please email Western Union
Solicitors Fund Verification Department: Dr . Chima Richard
E-mail(www.western_union_dept76@hotmail.fr) Phone: +229-939-143-82.
Also your are required to send us the sum of US$125.00 dollars
for re-newing and reconfirming of your file that was deposited
in this office with reconfirm of your name and address bellow.

Beneficiary name----------------------------
Address--------------------------------
Tel phone-----------------------------
Country------------------------------

As soon as the required fee of US$125.00 dollars is send today
for the renewing reconfirming the payment file of you
will start receiving your funds as from tomorrow. We wait
to receive the western union payment information today.

Engr Tony Bill Kossy.
Finance Minister
Federal Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam