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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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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.

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:
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +22993159333 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: financial secretary <finacialsecretaryatmdepartment@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 02:39:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: YOUR EMAIL REQUIRES URGENT AUTHENTICATION


FINANCIAL BANK PLC COTONOU BENIN
Head Office: BP 2012, rue Caporal Anani,
Branch; 87 avenue Victor Hugo, 75116 Paris, Franc.
Tel: +22993159333 / Fax + 22993070806

Dear Customer!

You are welcome to atm dept chamber Benin.
Once again thank you dear Customer.
I read your email and all is the instruction giving by the General overseas.

Tomorrow our director General Vala Musa will crose-check all the file and sign for it ok.
So go right as i am talking to you and send the $45 dollar via western union with the below name.

Secretary Egwautu Gabriel
Address Benin Republic
01 BP 506 COTONOU BENIN.
Text question:Ocean
Anwser:Blue

Thank you and God bless you.
Send the following information such as Question and anwser including mtcn number.
And attach to your address which we will use to coded in your card upon the delivery.
Your card will be activate immediately we confirm the real/truth.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam