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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
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• 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:
  • "western union" (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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • +22998063692 (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.
  • gbenc.willams1@yahoo.com
  • westernunion.beninmoneytransfer@gmail.com
  • beninmoneytransfer@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "=?big5?q?c.willams=20Ben?=" <benc.willams1@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:49:56 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gbenc.willams1@yahoo.com



- ATTN;BENEFICIARY;Now we have arranged your payment of ( $1.500 .000.00 ) united state dollars in ATM payment card,To be sent to you through western union money transfer payment,Your payment will be sending to you by western union, the amount you will be receiving perday is $5,000.00,The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently standards track details you need,To pick up your($5,000.00)payment by western union, You will be receiving every day till you receive the total of( $1.500.000.00 ) 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:westernunion.beninmoneytransfer@gmail.com However, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your payment by western union $5,000.00 perday.Mr David Mark,Western union department Financial Bank Benin,Tel Phone: +22998063692 Email: westernunion. beninmoneytransfer@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 need this details from you to process your payment:Receiver Address: Country:Tel:Test question: Answer:Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Mr.David Mark he will start sending your payment by western union Regards,call him on his Tel phone numbers as soon as you send him an email to enable him proceed the transfer to you today.Thanks and have a nice day.YOUR OWN BROTHER DR BENC.WILLAMS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam