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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: "Mr. James Davis" <officefile0971@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: western-u-pay-unitdept@qatar.io
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2011 18:01:15 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER




WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
INSTALMENTAL PAYMENT OFFICE
Website: www.westernunion.com
Payment officer: Mr. James Davis
WESTERN UNION INSTALMENT PAYMENT ONLY.
 
Attn: Beneficiary,

We write to inform you officially that the Board of Director of the Debt
Reconciliation Center,Inconjuction with the Federal Republic of
Nigeria,Federal Ministry of Finance Nigeria, Western union Agent Akpakpa with the UK LOTTERY ORGANIZATION has approved the payment sum of $500,000,00(FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS) as a DEPT RECONCILIATION PAYMENT, for your Winning funds with Compensation Head office, deposited by the Uk Lottery Organisation for payment to you as the Winning owner/Beneficiary of the amount $500,000.00usd.
 
After the Law Enforcement judgement between the UK LOTTERY ORGANIZATION Agent Mr. Goldman Smith and Compensation finance head office, The meeting held on the 31th of October, 2011,with the aformentioned office and banks, the Concluded arrangement has appointed our office (Western Union Money Transfer) to pay your unpaid Winning fund through western union electronic system for your easy pickup and to avoid further unforeseen delay that could make your fund not to get to you in a timely manner.
 
The Management of the UK LOTTERY ORGANISATION HEAD BRANCH here in West Africa have submitted your name, city and country information’s to our office for endorsement & daily activation of your payment which has been programmed to be transfered under instalment at rate of $5,500.00 daily as Western Union laws here does not allow transferring funds above $5.500.00 at once from this country to another, but will be sending under instalment of $5,500.00 daily till the amount is completely paid.
 
In other words. We have today transferred your first instalment payment
available for your pickup at any western union office nearest to you, but
still on hold due to the unpaid endorsement & daily activation file fee amount of $75.00 you supposed to pay before you can pickup your first installment today.
 
You will pickup the bellow instalment at any western union office nearest to you with bellow information's as soon as you send the $75 endorsement & daily activation file fee. Immediately the Activation is made, You can pickup your first instalment payment online at www.westernunion.com OR Call Western Union tracking number 1-800-325-6000  for avaiable fund verification purpose.
 
Payment information

Sender's First Name:James
Sender's Last Name: Davis
MTCN: 434-659-4639

(Track the mtcn by dialing 1-800-325-6000 or
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global

Text Question: Sport?
Answer: Golf
Amount Programmed: $5,500.00
 
NOTE: YOU CAN NOT PICKUP YOUR FIRST INSTALLMENT PAYMENT, UNTILL YOU MEET UPWITH THE ACTIVATION CHARGES OF $75.00
 
To Avoid any atom of mistake, you are hereby required to reconfirm your
payment receiver's name and address to avoid any mistake of payment activation during activation process of your payment as soon as the daily endoursement charges is paid.
 
Reconfirm the information as given to you below.
 
Receiver's Name:...................
Receiver's address:.................
Receiver's Tel. Number:.............

Please note that the receiver's information is very vital to us as the
activation of your daily instalment will be directing to your receiver's name and address.
 
The endorsement & daily activation file fee of $75 will be sending to our
office here in care to ............ through any western union nearest to you:
 
Receiver's Name: EZECHUKWU AUGUSTINE
City & Country: Benin Republic,Cotonou
Amount: $75
Text Question: Good ?
Answer: God
 
As soon as you send the fee, send us the transfer Mtcn to help us proceed with immediate transfer release of your instalment payment.Once your payment is confirmed, we shall proceed with the activation of your payment for available pickup in your Name/country/Address.Notice: This payment was approved by the federal ministry of finances Abuja, Nigeria to beneficiary only.
 
We anticipate your kind co-operation.CONTACT EMAIL ADRESS:(western-u-pay-unitdept@qatar.io)

 
Thanks For Using Western Union Office.
 
Sincerely Regards,
Mr. James Davis
+234 8090521581
Payment Department
Western Union Office Inconjuction with Federal Ministry of Finance

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