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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 PAYMENT CENTER" <wumt@payment.com>
Reply-To: wumtpaycenter2@aol.com
Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2012 00:25:29 -0600
Subject: UN/WESTERN UNION PAYMENT NOTICE..

You have been approved the sum of $1,500,000.00USD in the on going Western Union/United
Nation Poverty Alleviation Programme 2012 and you will be paid $7,600 daily via Western
Union. You will need to Contact Mrs.Franca Lee for full details @ +6010 3770 946 for
more information on this program and send your Names, Address and Phone Number to (
westerunion@kimo.com ) for payment.

Yours truly,
Mr. Jim Burch
Western Union Money Transfer Event Manager.

Anti-fraud resources: