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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:
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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:
  • "money transfer control number" (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. )
• 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.

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Holdings <pesimat@iol.cz>
Reply-To: westerunion1977@live.com
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:08:40 GMT
Subject: PAYMENT INFORMATION




=

I am just dropping by on this kinkos store to email you and let you know=
that I have just sent the payment via Western Union in your name as I d=
o not have your account details correct=2E =

=

I also want you to have the payment information below=3A
=

Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN)=3A 876-843-0922
Amount Sent=3A =24187=2C000 USD
Text Question=3A Favourite Colour=3F
Answer=3A White
=

You can go to any Western Union location right now and pick up the cash =
quick=2E I hope that you have a Western Union card=3F You will need thi=
s to send or claim amount above =2412=2C000 USD from any Western Union a=
gent location=2E =

=

My company will be sending my team to Chile this week=2E I am already on=
my way to join my team in completing the unfinished bridge construction=
project in Chile=2E We may leave town tomorrow and I couldn=27t go with=
out dropping the payment information with you=2E We may spend 2 to 3 mon=
ths there before the job would be completely finished=2E =

=

Remember that if you do not claim the money before 9 days=2C they will c=
all back the money to my card=2E And if you do not have the Western Unio=
n Promo/Gold Card=2C you cannot pick up the cash=2E =

=

I may not be around to reply any of your emails now=2C but I will talk t=
o you as soon as I return=2E If you do not have a Western Union card=2C =
you may contact the western union agent details below so that they will =
provide a Western Union card for you immediately and also send you a cop=
y of the voucher of the payment that I made=2C via email=2E =

=

Contact the office below for your Western Union card=3A
Contact Person=3A Bill Anthony
Email=3Awesterunion1977=40live=2Ecom
=

Send the below details to him
Your Full Name=3A
MTCN number=3A (as above)
Telephone=3A
Address=3A (including state and zip code)
=

As soon as the office gets the above information=2C they will use the cr=
edentials to create your Western Union card right away without any delay=
=2E =

=

That is all to it=2E I hope to talk to you as soon as we are back on the=
errand or call it project=2E =

=

Head Avrc
=A9 2001-2008 Western Union Holdings=2C Inc=2E All Rights Reserved

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam