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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:
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "million 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)
• 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.
  • +22993892879 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:59:04 +0200
Subject: MONEY SENT, Contact immediately,


Western Union=C2=AE=0AWelcome to Western Union=0ASend Money Worldwide=0AWes=
tern Union=C2=AE Welcome to Western Union Send Money Worldwide=0ACourage De=
ar Customer,=0AWe draw your attention to the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER i=
n respect of the sum of US$2.5Million Dollars (two million five hundred tho=
usand united states dollars) directed in cash and accredited to file KTU/90=
23118308 at the owner of this email account.=0AThis information was made av=
ailable to us a while ago by the INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND directed that =
your compensation be transferred to you through your allocated security cod=
e which they choose to send it to you through your email account instead of=
your name for security reason.=0ABut at the moment, we are unable to compl=
ete a transfer directed at your email address, so we require more informati=
on in order to complete this transfer to you.=0AFULL NAME: ................=
...........=0AFULL CONTACT ADDRESS: ....................=0AMOBILE PHONE NUM=
BER: .....................=0ATo ensure that we resolve this problem now, en=
deavor to email us immediately via Western Union Solicitors Fund Verificati=
on Department: ( info.westernunion@24.com ). Be informed that as soon as th=
is information is received,=0Aand you have complied with therequirements of=
payment of the western union charges $275USD, we will transfer your total =
fund to your nominated bank account or directly from the Western Union mone=
y Transfer system.=0AWe are mindful of the activities of fraudsters but you=
are advised to maintain a strict and confidential relationship with us and=
guard all information made available to you in the cause of this transfer =
with all diligence to avoid unnecessary interference in our operations to e=
nsure that your total fund is transferred to you successfully as soon as po=
ssible.=0ADo contact us through our website, www.westernunion.co.uk but be =
informed also that you will be responsible for any payment that is needed f=
or the transfer of your fund into your nominated bank account or at the cou=
nter directly from the Western Union money Transferring Bank.=0AThis inform=
ation is from THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER,=0AUNITED KING=
DOM HEAD OFFICE .=0ASincerely,=0AMr. James Mark.=0Awww.westernunion.co.uk=
=0A(western-union@24.com) . Western Union=C2=AE Welcome to=0AWestern Union=
=0APhone:+229-9389-2879 Send Money Worldwide

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam