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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22993642655 (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.
  • wstenunion@gmail.com
  • 3awstenunion@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "barrister tom james" <barristertomjames8@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 13:16:18 +0100
Subject: FROM MINISTRAIL OF FINANCE FUND RELEASE ORDER


Attn:My Dear

now we have arranged your payment of ($2.5Million)Two Million five hundred
tho
usand united state dollars in atm payment card to be sent to you through
weste
rn union money transfer payment: Your payment will sending to you by western
u
nion, the amount you will receive per day is $10,000

The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently
standar
ds track details you need to pick up your ($10,000) payment by western
union,
you will receive every day till you receive the $2.5Million united state
dolla
rs, now no need to send you this atm card because you can not be able to
withd
raw 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
yo
u are free to comply with wemaco payment office on this
email:wstenunion@gmail.com <email%3Awstenunion@gmail.com>)
however, kindly contact the below person who is in position t
o release your payment by western union per $10,000 a day.
Mr Johnson Darry ,
western union department
Financial Bank Benin,
Mobile: +229 93 642655
E-mail:(wstenunion@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 name---------------

Country---------------------

City------------------------

Tel-------------------------
Mobile phone................

Test question---------------

Answer----------------------

Copy of your id----------------

Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Mr Johnson
Dar
ry he will start sending your payment by
western union

Regards,
Barrister Tom James

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam