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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.

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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)
  • "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. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • +22993869729 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER <wu-file4@msn.com>
Reply-To: wu-file7@msn.com
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:37:30 +0100
Subject: THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER




THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OFFICE BENIN BRANCH OCEANI=
C
BANK PLC. FROM THE DESK OF WESTERN UNION REMMITANCE DEPT, DR. BABS COKER.
Address; St, Peters & Paul Road Cotonou Benin Rep.

Our Ref:WUMT0XX2/987

Attention To The Owner Of This E-mail,

GOOD NEWS.

How are you today? I write to inform you that the Board of federal
ministry
of finance Benin Republic are hereby to notify you of your compensation
payment inheritance fund of US$2.5M after the meeting held on 25th of
september 2008. His Excellency the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN
(DR YAYI BONI) has Instructed this Department to send your fund through
our
Branch, OCEANIC BANK PLC western union money transfer for easy receiving
of
your compensation inheritance fund of $2.5MUSD without any further delay
to
avoid paying money to the fraud stars the so called africa scammers that
is
going on through Courier Companies Banks Etc.You are required to send
below
information:

1, Your full names.
2, Country name
and address.
3, Your direct telephone number.

Where you want your fund to be send through This OCEANIC BANK PLC Western
Union money Transfer.The maximium amount you will be receiving per a day
starting from tomorrow is $5,000.00) and the MTCN NO# will be send along
with the Text Questions & Answers for you to pick it up from any western
union agent office Locations in your Country.

Also you are required by this Department to send the Renewing &
Reconfirming of your file charges of $125.00 dollars to help us Re-new an=
d
Re-cofirm your file that was deposited in this BANK along with your name
and address below.Beneficiary name,Address,direct telephone numbers.

My direct phone line is +22993869729, OCEANIC BANK PLC Western Union
Manager DR.BABS COKER, contact us via our costumer care Private Email
Address only with the above requested information: wu-file7@msn.com email
or call me once you send the requested information along with the payment
details.

For further procedure get back
to us urgently with your information above
to enable us start sending the money Because As soon as the required fee
of
($125.00) is received today for the Renewing Cotonou Benin Republic.
Text Question: Who is great
Answer: GOD
Amount: US$125.00,
MTCN Number.
Sender's Name,

We await for your urgent email with the payment information included with
your address as requested above. Respond to us through this email:
wu-file7@msn.com

Yours in service
DR. BABS COKER.
OCEANIC BANK PLC Western Union Manager.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam