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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:

• 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:
  • "money transfer control number" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
• 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.
  • westunion213@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Head Avrc <ydilleryo@mersin.edu.tr>
Reply-To: "Head Avrc" <westunion213@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:56:40 EEST
Subject: WESTERN UNION PAYMENT DETAIL

I am just dropping by on this kinkos store to email you and let you know
that I have just sent the payment via Western Union in your name as I do
not have your account details correctly.

I also want you to have the payment information below:

Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN): 876-843-0922
Amount Sent: $187,000 USD
Text Question: Favourite Colour?
Answer: White

You can go to any Western Union location right now and pick up the cash
quick. I hope that you have a Western Union card / Promo code? You will
need this to send or claim amount above $12,000 USD from any Western
Union agent location.

My company will be sending my team to Chile this week.

I am already on my way to join my team in completing the unfinished
bridge construction project in Chile. We may leave town tomorrow and I
couldn't go without dropping the payment information with you. We may
spend 2 to 3 months there before the job would be completely finished.

Remember that if you do not claim the money before 9 days, they will
call back the money to my card. And if you do not have the Western Union
Promo/Card, you cannot pick up the cash.

I may not be around to reply any of your emails now, but I will talk to
you as soon as I return.

If you do not have a Western Union Promo Code, you may contact the
western union agent details below so that they will provide a Western
Union card/Promo Card for you immediately and also send you a copy of
the voucher of the payment that I made, via email.

Contact the office below for your Western Union card:

Contact Person: Bill Anthony
Email: westunion213@gmail.com

Send the below details to him

Your Full Name:
MTCN number: (as above)
Telephone:
Address: (including state and zip code)

As soon as the office gets the above information, they will use the
credentials to create your Western Union Promo code right away without
any delay.

That is all to it. I hope to talk to you as soon as we are back on the
errand or call it project.

Head Avrc
© 2001-2008 Western Union Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam