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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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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "barr." (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.
  
• 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.
  • +22993125509 (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.
  • westernuniondeptbenin1708@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3awesternuniondeptbenin1708@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Emmanuel Blessing" <officefile772@fastwebmail.it>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:13:24 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS,PICK UP YOUR FUND BY WESTERN UNION.


*Attn dear friend :*

*Now we have arranged your payment of ($1.2millions) one millions two
hundred thousand united state dollars in an Atm Payment Card to be sent to
you through western union money transfer payment:
Your payment will be sent to you by western union, the amount you will
receive per day is $5,000.00 (five thousand Dollars)
The Minister Trust Funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently
standards track details you need to pick up your ($5,000) payment by western
union, you will receive every day till you receive the $1.2millions united
state dollars, now no need to send you this atm card because you can not be
able to withdraw with the atm card due to the atm master card contain large
money on it and is not activated too and many people have received their
fund through this western union which is safer and reliable with less cost.
The director administrtor trust funds have already signed your payment, now
you are free to comply with wemaco payment office on this email: (**
westernuniondeptbenin1708@gmail.com* <westernuniondeptbenin1708@gmail.com>*)

however, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your
payment by western union per $5,000 a day.
Mr Kevin Mogan,
western union department
Financial Bank Benin,
Mobile:+229-931-25-509
E-mail:westernuniondeptbenin1708@gmail.com<E-mail%3Awesternuniondeptbenin1708@gmail.com>
*

*The financial western union payment center 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------------------------
sex___________________________
age___________________________
ID____________________________
Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Mr Kevin
Mogan, he will start sending your payment by western union.And do let me
know immediately you get your money for us to share the joy together.*


*Regards,
Barr. Emmanuel Blessing.
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam