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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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)
  • "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 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.
  • western.union_2@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mr jeffry" <mrjeffry5@ig.com.br>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 11:21:34 +0200
Subject: ISSUE WITH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER


*Hello Dear,

There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of
$1.5m USD (One million five hundred Thousand United State Dollars)directed
in cash credited to file KTU/ 9023118308/03, at the owner of this email
address.The International Monetary Fund contacted us for your compensation a
couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.

They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a name.
We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address,so we
require some more information in order to complete this transfer.

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION:
MOBILE PHONE:
MARITAL STATUS*


*Fund Verification Department :(
**western.union_2@yahoo.it*<western.union_2@yahoo.it>
* ) As soon as this information is received,and you have complied with the
requirements of payment of the western union In order to resolve this
problem,please email via Western Union Solicitors charges,payment will be
made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from The
Western Union Transfering Bank. When emailing,please use reference number
250-153 for our mutual convenience.

THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER,OFFICE
BENIN BRANCH.

Sincerely,
Mr Jeffry*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam