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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +22993684478 (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.
  • western120unionofficebenin@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "frank eze" <frankeze09@legwork.com.ng>
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:48:02 +0100
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION FOR YOUR PAYMENT,


Attn:My Dear friend,

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 $10,000

The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently
standards track details you need to pick up your ($10,000) 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 wemaco payment office on this

email:( western120unionofficebenin@yahoo.fr) however, kindly contact the
below person who
is in position to release your payment by western union per $10,000 a day.

Mr LARRY DaN ,

western union department

Financial Bank Benin,

Mobile: +229 93-68-44-78.

E-mail: ( western120unionofficebenin@yahoo.fr)

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 Mr LARRY
DaN he will start sending your payment by western union

Regards,
Mr Frank Eze

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam