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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:
  • "transfer of your funds" (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)
  • "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
• 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.
  • +22993061066 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: office file <isabelle.dellisse@free.fr>
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:01:33 +0100 (CET)
Subject: YOUR TRANSFER CODE NOTIFICATION


Attn; Receipient,

Please be informed that the funds are coming directly from the International Monetary Funds
headquarters and we are only to pay beneficiaries once they meet their financial obligations.

Also note that Western Union is not allowed to make all payment at once via western union money
transfer due to the way the fund came to our headquarters and for security reasons, upon receipt of
your fees and your International Remittance File purchased, you are receiving a first pay-out of
$10,000 which is made into two halves which will enable you walk into any Western Union office of
your choice and pick up your funds. Note that the remaining fund/payment will be made install
mentally in the following order:

1. $10,000 made payable to you from the Western Union
2. $740,000 made payable to you via bank wire transfer from our designated paying bank.

Upon receipt of the fee for the purchasing of your international remittance file, you are receiving
your first pay-out of $10,000.00

According to the Section 636(1) of the LPN CAF of the 1999 constitution regarding a contract like
you will have to make the payment of the $100.00usd so as to enable the purchasing of your inheritance
file to prevent illegal transfer of your funds or any form of hindrance.

Here are details of your money transfer of $10,000 made on your behalf but it has no receiver's name
yet until you remit the $100.00 to us before we can purchase the inheritance file with your name and
put your name as the receiver below is the information you will use to send us the fee $100.00 Via
western union.

RECEIVER NAME ________ GODWIN C. OKECHUKWU
COUNTRY________________ REPUBLIC OF BENIN
CITY _______________________ COTONUO
TEXT QUESTION__________________ TRANSFER CODE?
ANSWER_______________________ 001
MTCN__________________
Then after you send the money you can send the payment information to our email below.

E-Mail:(western-union__moneytransfer@live.fr)
Direct line:+229-930-61-066


As soon as we receive the payment of the $100.00 from you then we pick it up we well put your name
as the receive and you will go to western union and pick the money.

PAYMENT DETAILS MADE FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION!!!

Amount: $5,000 USD
MTCN:895-375-3168

Amount:$5,000 USD
MTCN:895-375-3110

Sender`s First Name: Godwin
Sender's Last Name: Okechukwu
You can log onto our website www.westernunion.com and track your transfer and see that your money
is there but needed the above stated fee to redirect the transfer to you for your easy pick up. Note
that within 72hrs if you do not remit the required $100.00 which has already been made ($10,000)It
will be withdrawn back and remember that the money details given to you does not bear your name as
the receiver until you make the payment of the $100.00

Get back to us with our E-Mail:( western-union__moneytransfer@live.fr) with the payment information one
you made the payment and you can call on my direct line if you have any question OK.

Call for confirmation of receipt of this message on :+229-930-61-066
Have a good day.

Regards,
Hill Johnson (ESQ)
Western Union Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam