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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
• 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.
  • +22997843997 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:54:18 +0100
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER


=C2=A0



Send Money Worldwide
=C2=A0
From The Desk Of WESTERN UNION REMMITANCE DEPT
=C2=A0
Our Ref:WUMT0XX2/987=C2=A0
=C2=A0
GOOD NEWS,
=C2=A0
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY=C2=A0TRANSFER UNITED UNITE=
D KINGDOM in the amount of $800.000.00 usd=C2=A0directed in cash credited=
to file KTU/9023118308/03, at the owner of this email address . The INTE=
RNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for=C2=A0the release of your money=C2=
=A0a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.
=C2=A0
They said that they choose to send it to you throug western union instead=
of courrier services because there's many fake courrier company here so =
we dont trust any of them. We are unable to complete=C2=A0a transfer dire=
cted at an email address,so we require some more information in order to =
complete this transfer.
=C2=A0
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:
CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THIS=C2=A0E-MAIL westerrnun=
ion5@live.fr=C2=A0Phone number +229-9784-3997
=C2=A0
Note: That this is not one of those Nigerian/African scams that all they =
are after is to ripe you off your money and at the end you wil not receiv=
e your funds, but note that this is no scam and is directly from the Mana=
gement of Western Union Money Transfer Benin Republic Head Office and our=
Motto is To Serve You Better. we will be sending you $5000 usd every day=
because to transfer the total money $800.000.00 usd to your account will=
cost you big money for the transfering Fee.that is why united nations gi=
ve us order to be sending you $5000 usd every day,
=C2=A0
Contact us on our=20
E-mail;=C2=A0westerrnunion5@live.fr=C2=A0
Phone number +229-9784-3997
Director=C2=A0Name Albert Alson
=C2=A0
also note that you would be receiveing $5000 for each transfer that's how=
we are going pay you your $800.000.00 usd=C2=A0$5000 usd per a transfer.
=C2=A0
THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, BENIN HEAD OFFICE.
DISPATCHED THIS DAY

BEST REGARDS,
Mr CHUKS UBA.(303)

Western Union=C2=AE=20

Welcome to Western Union

Send Money Worldwide

Registered =C2=A9 2007 - 2008 Western Union Money Transfer. All Right Res=
erved=20
=C2=A0
This email is intended for the named recipient only and may contain privi=
legde and confidential information. If you have received this email in er=
ror, please notify us immediately. Please do not disclose the contents to=
anyone or copy it to outside parties

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam