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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "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)
  • "director of operations foreign remittance division" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "foreign remittance division" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "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 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.
  • westernunion241@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "cos jim" <cosjim@ig.com.br>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:39:15 +0200
Subject: will start sending your payment by western union


DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DIVISION ATM
INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC BENIN
WEST AFRICA

Attn Beneficiary,

This is to notify you that after the meeting held on 20th of May 2008. His
Exelence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN DR YAYI BONI. has
Instructed this Department to send your funds through western union money
transfer for easier receive of your inherinted funds without any further
delay. To avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through the
WORLDNow we have arranged your payment of ($2.4millions) Two millions four
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 $5,100 The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will
send you the currently standards track details you need to pick up your
($5,100) payment by western union,you will receive every day till you
receive the $2.4millions united state dollars.

The director administrtor trust funds have already signed your payment, now
you are free to comply with wemaco payment office on this email: ( *
westernunion241@yahoo.fr* <westernunion241@yahoo.fr> ) However, kindly
contact the below person who is in position to release your payment by
western union. $5,100 per day
Mr Martins Dubesi,
western union department
Oceanic Bank Plc Benin,
Mobile: 00 229 937-290-38
E-mail: ( *westernunion241@yahoo.fr* <westernunion241@yahoo.fr> )

The Oceanic 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.
Therefore the only fee you will pay them is $150 usd the money is what they
will use for the renewing of your file before you will start receiveing your
funds via western union.

Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to process
your payment:
Your name_____________________
Receiver name______________
Country_____________________
City_____________________
Tel_____________________
Test question_____________________
Answer_____________________

Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Mr Martins
Dubesi he will start sending your payment by western union
Regards to you and your family ,
Thanks and be bless .

DR Cos Jim

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam