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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
  (+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.

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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "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)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• 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.
  • +22993015379 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22997246747 (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.
  • obumu25@gazeta.pl
  • westerunionoffic@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "obumu25 Gazeta.pl" <obumu25@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:08:25 +0200
Subject: CONTACT THE WESTER UNION FOR YOUR $1.5Million PAYMENT


FINANCIAL MINISTER OF. FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF
BENIN.FOREIGN CONTRACTORPAYMENT OFFICE.
TEL +229-93015379 FAX+229-93-204-687.
Email:obumu25@gazeta.pl
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attn:Beneficiary .

The Board of federal ministry of finance benin republic.are here to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of $1.5MILLION. after the meeting held
on 28th of May 2008. His Exelencethe PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN
DR YAYI BONI.has Instructed the ministry of finance to make your transfer
through western union money transfer.

Now we have arranged your payment of ($1.5Million) One Million five hundred
thousand united state dollars in atm payment card to be sent to you through
western union money transfer payment: Your payment will sending to you by
western union, the amount you will receive per day is $7.000


The western union office will send you the currently standards track details
you need to pick up your ($7,000) payment by western union, you will receive
every day till you receive the $1.5Million 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 administrtor trust funds have already signed your payment, now
you are free to comply with payment office on this email:(
westerunionoffic@sify.com) however, kindly contact the below person who is
in position to release your payment by western union per $7,000 a day.
RV.BEN EZE,
western union department
Financial Bank Benin,
Telphone:(+229 97246747)
E-mail:(westerunionoffic@sify.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 name---------------
Country---------------------
City------------------------
Tel-------------------------
Test question---------------
Answer----------------------
Copy of your id-----------

Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to RV.BEN
EZE.he will start sending your payment by western union

FROM DESK OF MR SOCHIM OBUMU
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF. FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FORGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam