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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 Foundation" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wesunionafrica@mail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:52:40 +0630
Subject: Be informed that we have already sent you $8,000.00 U.S.Dollars

Dear Beneficiary,

Be informed that we have already sent you $8,000.00 U.S.Dollars
through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer
your full payment total sum of US$360,000,00 (Three hundred Sixty Thousand U.S.
Dollars) via Western Union.The first $8,000.00 has already been sent
to you today.As We have concluded to effect your payment through
Western Union.You will be picking up $8,000.00 daily until the
US$360,000,00 is completed.

Therefore,you are required to contact the Western Union Money Transfer
Office via email or phone as listed below for an immediate release of
your funds to you.

Contact Person: Mr.Henry Okafor,
Foreign Operation Manager,Western Union Office,
Lagos,Nigeria,West Africa.
Phone: +2348032481771
E-mail:wesunionafrica@mail.com

Make sure you send the following informations to the Western Union
Officer to enable him Verify and be sure that you are the real
Beneficiary.

1:Your Full name:
2:City:
3:Country:
4:Phone number:
5;Occupation:
6:Age:
Driven License or
International ID-CARD

Yours Faithfully,
William Eteki,
Awards Cordinator,
Western Union Foundation.

Anti-fraud resources: