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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:
  • "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.
  • +22993187994 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:45:44 +0100
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION FOR YOUR PAYMENT,


Attn:My Dear=20
now we have arranged your payment of ($2.5Million) One Million five hundr=
ed thousand united state dollars in atm payment card to be sent to you th=
rough western union money transfer payment: Your payment will sending to =
you by western union, the amount you will receive per day is $5,000 The m=
inister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently standar=
ds track details you need to pick up your($5,000) payment by western unio=
n, you will receive every day till you receive the $2.5Million united sta=
te dollars,=20
now no need to send you this atm card because you can not be able to with=
draw the atm card due to the atm master card contain large money on it.=C2=
=A0 The director administrtor trust funds have already signed your paymen=
t, now you are free to comply with wemaco payment office on this email( w=
sternunion@live.fr ) however, kindly contact the below person who is in p=
osition to release your payment by western union per $5,000 a day.=20
Mr Johnson Darry ,=20
western union department=20
Financial Bank Benin,=20
Mobile: +22993187994=C2=A0=20
E-mail: ( wsternunion@live.fr=C2=A0 )

The financial western union payment canter has been mandated to issue out=
your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any oth=
er person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitchesin receiving your payment. =
Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to process=
your payment:=20
Receiver name---------------=20
Country---------------------=20
City------------------------=20
Tel-------------------------=20
Test question---------------=20
Answer----------------------
Copy of your id----------------
=C2=A0
Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Mr Johnso=
n Darry=C2=A0 he will start sending your payment by western union.=20
Regards,=20
Barrister Jerry John

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam