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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: W/U < Esther@dolphin.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: wnmoney@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 15 May 2015 04:16:11 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention




Attention E-mail Address Owner,

Sequel to the first edition 2015 meeting held today with Federal Bureau of Investigation, The International Monetary Fund IMF is compensating all the scam victims and your name and email address was found in the scam victims list. This Western Union office has been mandated by the IMF to transfer your compensation to you via Western Union Money Transfer.

However, we have concluded to effect your payment through Western Union Money Transfer, $5,000 twice per day until your total sum of $500,000.00 is completely transferred to you. We have made your first payment this morning but your payment file need to activate before you will pick up the payment today and it will cost you $85 only to activate your payment file.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST PAYMENT INFORMATION:

MTCN 6048437120
SENDERS NAME DAVID GREEN
SENDERS COUNTRY BENIN REPUBLIC
TEXT QUESTION IN GOD
TEXT ANS WE TRUST
AMOUNT $5,000.00

Note that your payment files will be returned to the IMF within 72 hours if we did not hear from you, this was the instruction given to us by the IMF.

Thanks,
DAVID GREEN
Tel phone +229 98521182
Director Western Union Money Transfer
Head Office Benin Republic
CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE

Anti-fraud resources: