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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.

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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)
• 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.
  • +22993188250 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "FRANK PUFF" <frankpuff4@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:52:16 +0100
Subject: CONTACT THE WESTERN U


Attn:My Dear,

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 be sending to you by
western union, the amount you will receive per day is $7,000.

The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently
standards track details you need to pick up your ($7,000) payment by western
union, you will receive every two days till you receive the total fund of
($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 only fee you have to send them is $105 usd that they will use to obtain
insurance transfer and claims of affadvite that will prove that the parcel
that contain the total sum of ($1.5Million) belong to you be rest assure
that all other fees have been paid by me.

The director administrator trust funds have already signed your payment, now
you are free to comply with western union payment office on this email: (
wu_moneytransfer303@live.fr) however, kindly contact the below person who is
in position to release your payment by western union per $7,000 a day.try
and send them the fee of $105 usd immediately to aneble them send your fund
ok.

Mr Jubilee Godwin,
western union department
Financial Bank Benin,
Mobile: +229 93 188 250
E-mail: wu_moneytransfer303@live.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----------------------

Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Mr Jubilee
Godwin he will start sending your payment by western union.

Regards,

Mr Puff.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam