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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.

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:
  • "transfer of your funds" (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)
• 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.
• 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.
  • +2299837 (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.
  • on@gmail.com
  • rnunion@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "WESTERN UNION" <darryl_diane@delfi.lv>
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:47:39 +0200
Subject: MONEY SENT, I HOPE U GOT THE MAIL


Attn; Recipient,=0AThe two transfer=0Ahas been sent, but Please be informed=
that the funds are coming directly from=0Athe International Monetary Funds=
headquarters and we are allow to pay=0Abeneficiaries once they meet their =
financial obligations.=0AAlso note that=0AWestern Union is not allowed to m=
ake all payment at once via western union money=0Atransfer due to the way t=
he fund came to our headquarters and for security=0Areasons, upon receipt o=
f your fees and your International Remittance File=0Apurchased, you are rec=
eiving a first pay-out of $10,000 which=0Ais made into two halves and to en=
able you walk into any Western Union office of=0Ayour choice and pick up yo=
ur funds. Note that the remaining fund/payment will be=0Amade install menta=
lly in the following order:=0A1. $10,000 made Aveilable to you from the Wes=
tern=0AUnion today=0A2. $740,000 made=0Apayable to you via bank wire transf=
er from our designated paying bank.=0AUpon receipt of the fee for the purch=
asing of your international=0Aremittance=0Afile, you are receiving your fir=
st pay-out of $10,000.=0AAccording to the Section 636(1) of the LPN CAF of =
the 1999 constitution=0Aregarding a contract like you will have to make the=
payment of the=0A$100usd as to enable the purchasing of your inheritance f=
ile to=0Aprevent illegal transfer of your funds or any form of hindrance.=
=0AHere are=0Adetails of your money transfer of $10,000 made on your behalf=
=0Abut it has no receiver's Name yet until you remit the charge to=0Aus bef=
ore we can purchase the inheritance file with your name and put your name=
=0Aas the receiver below is the information you will use to=C2=A0make your =
payment=C2=A0of=0A$100.00 Via western union office with.=0ARECEIVER NAME=C2=
=A0 IS=C2=A0=C2=A0 OKOLO CHINEDU=0ACOUNTRY=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 IS=C2=A0=
=C2=A0 REPUBLIC OF=0ABENIN=0ACITY=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 IS=C2=A0=C2=A0 COTONUO=0ATEXT QUESTION IS TRANSFER=0ACOD=
E?=0AANSWER=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 IS=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 001=0ATo ens=
ure we resolve the=0Aproblem now,=C2=A0make your=C2=A0requard bearing name =
fee=C2=A0of $100=C2=A0 available=C2=A0to us within=0A72 hours,=C2=A0=C2=A0s=
end=C2=A0your payment to=C2=A0your customer care office at=0A(=0Awestern-un=
ion@24.com) or any additional information=0Acontact us at( info24westernuni=
on@gmail.com, Call for=0Aconfirmation receipt of this message on: +229-9837=
7738=0AAs soon=C2=A0the Beneficialy Bearing Name fee=C2=A0of $100 is=C2=A0r=
eceive from you,=0Ayour name will be put as the receiver and you will go to=
western union and pick=0Athe first pay out of the $10,000 USD.=C2=A0 wich =
has been made on=0Ayour behalf since yestarday evenin.=0APAYMENT DETAILS MA=
DE FOR YOUR=0ACONFIRMATION!!!=0AAmount: $5,000=0AUSD=0AMTCN: 511-528-9891=
=0AAmount: $5,000 USD=0AMTCN: 803-528-9831=0ASender&rsquo;s first name: OKO=
LO=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D?=0ASender's last name:=0ACHINEDU=3D=3D=3D=3D?=0AYou can l=
og onto our website=0Awww.westernunion.com and track your transfer but to r=
esolved=0Athe problem needed the above stated fee to redirect the transfer =
to your easy=0Apick up within 72hrs if you do not remit the=0Arequired=C2=
=A0fee=C2=A0might result in abnormal behaviour during=0Atransfer.=0ABest of=
luck as you spend your good=0Afortune.=0ARegards,=0ASteven James (ESQ)=0AW=
estern Union=0APayments=0ATELE: +229-93892879=C2=A0=0AE-mail:=0Ainfo24weste=
rnunion@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam