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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 Anderson" <officedhlhead@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. James Anderson" <westernuion471@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2015 08:24:02 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GET BACK TO THIS WESTERN UNION OFFICE TODAY AND RECEIVE YOUR FIRST $5000


How are you doing today?
 
I am Mr. James Anderson; the director of the Western Union Money Transfer Office; here in Benin Republic . I want to fully in form and I assure you through this medium that all documents of your $2.8million have being issued. This will enable this western union department to start transferring your daily payment of $5000 until total fund of $2.8million is fully transferred to you.
 
The only problem we are having right here is your personal signature which the Federal Administrator of Fund Benin requested that you must sign those documents before we can transfer funds to you. However, I told the officer in charge that it will not be necessary for you to come down here due to your occupation or some other things that may not allow you to come down here to sign those documents by yourself. The Minister Administrator of Fund said that you should get an attorney to sign on your behalf if you are unable to come down here in person.
 
I think this way is the best and the only way forward for you to receive your fund. I have negotiated with an attorney who will sign on your behalf. His name is Henry Floyd. According to him you are to pay for the accredited attorney. He is charging $110.00 to be paid before he gets those documents signed in your favor. I told him to consider signing those documents on your behalf today with a promise that you will pay him back from the $5,000 payment you suppose to receive this evening if he gets those documents signed this.
 
And his response is that you have to pay the accredited attorney fee of $110.00 before signing those documents. Well, I asked him for the very last time if he could allow you pay half of his fee today with a promise that you will pay him the remain balance tomorrow from your $5,000 payment at the western union office once you pick up the $5,000 payment. Well, he said that you should go ahead and pay the half of the fee $55.00 through Western Union or Money Gram today. He needs me to ask you if you will be so kind to pay him back the remaining $55.00 balance at the western union office once you picked up the $5,000 pay out each day. I am hereby writing this message to ask you to let me know if you will pay his balance immediately you pick up the $5,000 payment.
 
He wants you to pay half of $55.00 today if you are so kind to pay the balance at the western union office once you picked up the $5,000 payment in the evening. But if you are not kind enough to pay his balance after picking the first transfer just do not bother yourself to reply because I won’t see another attorney here to do this. Here is information for you to pay $55.00 half of his fee through western union today. You will receive your first payment of $5000 today as soon as you are able to send the needed fee.
 
Send The half of the fee $55.00 today via Money Gram Or Western Union;

Receiver's Name:........... CHRIS OKO
Country:..................... Benin
City :............................. Cotonou
Amount:....................... $55.00
Test Question:...............When
Test Answer:..............Today
Sender's Name:............??
Money Transfer Control Number………….?

Reply back to us with the Western Union or Money-Gram payment details of the fee once you send it today.
 
The attorney will get those documents signed as soon as he confirms the half of his fee from you. I will advice you to pay him the half of $55.00 and let him sign the documents and you will then pay the other balance of $55.00 form your $5,000 payment.
 
I await your compliance.
Sincerely,
Mr. James Anderson
Treat Urgent
Call /Phone 00229 995 890 93. 

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