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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union Money Transfer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wumoneytransferpayout@w.cn>
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:05:52 +0100
Subject: Your Western Union Payment

Attention: Customer.

We write to inform you that we will send to the sum of you $5000.00 USD dollars (Five Thousand US Dollars) through Western Union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment of $500,000.00 USD (Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) through Western Union Money Transfer by the European Union Government (EU).

We shall be sending $5000.00 USD dollars (Five Thousand US Dollars) per day for you to pick up from the nearest Western Union Money Transfer office in your location for 50 Days, and $250,000.00 USD through Bank transfer to your nominated Bank Account in your Country. Contact Mr.Jose Mendez for the receiver's information the (MTCN Number and Senders's Name and Address) for you to pick up the first $5000.00 USD dollars (Five Thousand US Dollars)

contact Mr.Jose Mendez with the below information, and with your direct telephone number, upon meeting the below requirement.

Western Union Payout Officer
Name:Jose Mendez
email: wumoneytransferpayout@w.cn

IMPORTANT NOTE: FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO START RECEIVING THIS $5000 USD DAILY, AN EUROPEAN UNION (EU) BENEFICIARY REMITTANCE FILE MOST BE OPENED FOR YOU.

Regards,Eric Taylor.
©2001- Western Union Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Anti-fraud resources: