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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" <info@live.com>
Reply-To: wumtransfer02@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:08:13 -0300 (UYT)
Subject: Your Western Union Payment

Good day,

I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 USD
dollars through Western Union as we have been given the mandate to
transfer your full compensation payment of $150,000 USD via Western Union
by the
United Nations Government.So I decided to email you the MTCN and sender's
name so you can pick up this $5000.00 USD to enable us send another $5000.00
USD by tomorrow as you know we will be sending you only $5000.00 USD per
day. Please pick up this information and run to any Western Union in
your country to pick up the $5000.00 USD and call me back to send you
another payment tomorrow.

Manager: Mr. JERRY AVAN
Email: wumtransfer02@hotmail.com
Phone:+2348-059107644
Call or email me once you picked up this $5,000 USD today.
Here is the western union information, you can also track it on-line @
www.westernunion.com.

Sender Information's
Sender's First name------- MARK
Sender's Last name----- POWER
MTCN: 0327-919-598
Amount: 5,000 USD
Test Question: To Who?
Test Answer: To Friend

Regards,
Mr. Chris Turner

Anti-fraud resources: