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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.

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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 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.
  • +22993986895 (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.
  • westernunion333@bk.ru

Fraud email example:

From: "ben godwin" <godwinben73@norilsk.biz>
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 15:38:56 +0200
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT TODAY FOR YOUR ($2.4M USD)


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 June 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 $5000
The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently
standards track details you need to pick up your ($5000) payment by western
union,you will receive every day till you receive the $2.4millions 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: (
westernunion333@bk.ru ) However, kindly contact the below person who is in
position to release

your payment by western union. per day $5000
Mr EMMA OBALA ,
western union department
Financial Bank Benin,
Mobile:+229 93 986 895
E-mail: ( westernunion333@bk.ru )

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.Therefore the only fee you have to pay them is $195 usd that they
will use to renewing of your file.

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 EMMA OBALA
he will start sending your payment by western union
Regards to you and your family ,
Thanks and be bless .

Mr GODWIN BEN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam