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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:
  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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22993914170 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:52:51 +0100
Subject: CONTAC WESTERN UNION OFFICE


FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER JAMES SHAKA ESQ.
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FORGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.


Attn:My Dear

After the meeting held on 2th of March 2008 We the Board of Federal Ministry
of Finance Benin Republic Now have arranged your payment of ($900.000.00)
Nine hundred thousand united state dollars which was 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
$8,000 The ministry trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the
currently standards track details you need to pick up your ($8,000) payment
by western union, you will receive every day till you receive the total sum
of $900.000.00 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: (westernunion5001@ymail.com)
however, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your
payment by western union $8,000 per a day.

MR GLORY JOHNSON
western union department
Financial Bank Benin,
Mobile: +229 93914170
E-mail: (westernunion5001@ymail.com)

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 GLORY
JOHNSON he will start sending your payment by western union

Regards,
BARRISTER JAMES SHAKA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam