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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • +229 (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.
  • westerunionmoneytransfer55@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:56:07 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER BENIN



Attn Beneficiary;
The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin Republic are hereby to notify
you of your payment inheritance funds of US $2.5million after the meeting held
on 13th of August 2008.
His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
BENIN (DR YAYI BONI) has Instructed this Department to send your funds through
our westernunion money transfer, for easy receive of your inheritance funds
without any further delay to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going
on through internet now ,You are required to send your name and address
Where you want your fund to be send to you through WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
The maximium amount you will be receiving per a day starting from tomorrow is
$8000.00) and the MTCN NO#
will be sent along with the Text Questions & Answers for you to receive your
fund through any Western Union Location in your Country,
Send your inforrmation to Mr Mr Morris Ali of westernunion money transfer in
Cotonou Benin Republic.
Receiver name--------------
Country-----------------------
City......................
Test question...............
Answer...................
Tel phone----------------------
Age.........................
For further procedure Contact our payment officer with the information below;
Attention; Mr Morris Ali.
Tel; +229_93962914.
Email; westerunionmoneytransfer55@yahoo.fr
Email; westerunionmoneytransfer55@yahoo.fr
Try to fill the Above Informations where they will be sending you your money ,
Your faithfuly
Mr. kennedy Ben

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam