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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • "into 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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • +229939863781 (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.
  • westernunion4044@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "westernunion02 Gazeta.pl" <westernunion02@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 10:02:44 -0700
Subject: WESTERN UNION PAYMENT


*Western Union(R) * *Welcome to Western Union*
*Send Money Worldwide*

*Attention:*

*There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of
$500.000.00 USD directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308, at the
owner of this email address. The INTERNATIONALMONETARY 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 emailaddress,*
**
*so we require some more information in order to complete this transfer.*
**
*FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION: HOME MAKER
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE: *
**
*In order to resolve this problem,please email via Western Union Solicitors
Fund Verification Department:
(westernunion4044@yahoo.fr<westernunion4044@yahoo.fr>)
**As soon as this information is received,and you have complied with the
requirements of payment of the western union charges $510, payment will be
made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from The
Western Union Transfering Bank.*
**
*From Directly Management of Western Union Money Transfer United Kingdom
Head Office and our Motto is To Serve You Better.*
**
*Below is the information to send the $510.00 today through Western Union
money transfer to make it faster and easier.*
**
*RECEIVER NAME; * *CHIDOZI CHIBUEZE*
*RECEIVER COUNTRY; BENIN REPUBLIC*
*CITY;COTONOU*
*TEST QUESTION; IN GOD*
*ANSWER; WE TRUST*
*AMOUNT; $510.00*
*MTCN NUMBER............................*
**
*Please don't forget to send the MTCN number to me immediately you send the
money and make sure that you send with this information to avoid mistake ok.
Waiting to have the MTCN.*
**
*Contact us on our website on
**www.westernunion.co.uk*<http://www.westernunion.co.uk/>
*
also note that you would be responsible for any payment that is needed for
the transfer of your funds into your nominated bank account or at the
counter directly
from the Western Union Transferring Bank.*
**
*THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, UNITED KINGDOM HEAD OFFICE.
*
**
*DISPATCHED THIS DAY*
**
*Sincerely,*
**
*MR. MARK JAMES.*
**
*www.westernunion.co.uk* <http://www.westernunion.co.uk/>
*WESTERN UNION PAYMENT
* [image: Dollars] [image: Western Union Logo]*Western Union(R) *
*Welcome to Western UnionPhone:+229-939863781*
*Send Money Worldwide*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam