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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:
  • "required fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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.
  • +22993017559 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: western.unionbf01@live.fr
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:11:58 +0100
Subject: Welcome to Western Union


*

Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF. FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN. FOREIGN CONTRACTOR
PAYMENT OFFICE

Atten: Beneficiary,

The Board of federal ministry of finance benin republic. are here to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of $850,0000 thousand dollars, after the
meeting held on 28th of August 2008. His Exelence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF BENIN. has Instructed this Department to send your funds through
western union money transfer for easier receive of your inherinted funds
without any further delay. to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is
going on internate.
You are required to send your name and address were you want your fund to be
send through western union the maximium amount you will be receiving each
day starting from tomorrow is the sum of $8000.00.perday also your are
required to send the Western Union Benin the sum of $100 USD for Re-newing
and recofirming file that was deposited in this office with your name,
Deposited by your name and address bellow .

Your Country................
Beneficiarey name-------
Address------------------
Mobile Phone...........
Tel phone------------------

Contact Mr, Glory Johnson Western Union Manager Benin
with this informations below:
TELEPHONE:: 00229 930 17 559
CONTACT PERSON: Mr, Glory Johnson

EMAIL:===western.unionbf01@live.fr

As soon the required fee of $100 dollars is send today to western union
manager for the renewing reconfirming the payment file of your funds you
will start receiving your funds as from tomorrow which is $8000.00 each day
and also remeber to get contact with Mr, Glory Johnson today and incould
your personal information,


Yours in service
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF. FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN. FOREIGN CONTRACTOR
PAYMENT OFFICE
ARNOLD BEN
PHONE 00229 930 17 559
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam