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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 TRANSFER <wankbord@tim.it>
Reply-To: westernuion@web.co.zw
Date: Sat, 20 May 2017 02:11:10 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Attention Please!!!,

Attention Please!!!,

We Want To Inform You Earlier Before You Will Lose Your Fund, After Our
Meeting Held With The Board Of Directors Of Western Union And Federal
Ministry Of Finance, They Stated That You Only Have 48hours Given To Receive
Your
First Payment Of $5,000 Usd From The Total (Funds) Of $3.7 Million Since You
Are
Finding It Difficult To Make This Payment We Have Decided That You Are To
Go Ahead And Pay Amount $45.00 Since You Are Not Able To Come Up With The
Required Sum, Time Is Of The Essence Here.

Therefore Go Straight Now And Pay Amount {$45.00} To Enable Us Release Your
Payment That Is Place On Hold By The Management And Be Informed That You
Will Have To Pay The Balance Sum Of Your Fees Upon Cashing Up Of Your First
5,000:00 Usd, Also I Am Using This Medium To Inform You That Failure To Pay The
Sum
Will Leave Us With No Option But To Cancel Your Transfer And Can Never Cash Up
The Balance Sum.

For Your Information Do Not Expect The Release Of Your Payment Without
Sending The Money Required Fee And Remember That You Are Given Only 48hours To
Comply Or Your Transfer Will Be Cancel Immediately Since You Are Told To Send
Only
Amount Of $45.00 You Have In Order To Help You. Below Is Our Account
Officer Name Which You Will Use To Send The Fee through money gram To Enable Us
Release Your First Payment Immediately.

Receiver's Name:_____ IGNA HAIGBO
Address:_____ C/458 Akpakpa- Cotonou
City:_____ Cotonou
Country:_____ Republic Of Benin
Cod No:_____ 00229
Text Question:_____ Hello
Text Answer:_____ Hi
Amount:_____ $45.00 Only.
Mtcn :_____
Sender's Name: _____

Send Us the Mtcn Number Immediately You Send the Money And Immediately We
Confirm The Transfer Fee We Will Release Your First Payment $5000 Today
And Not Tomorrow

Mr. Edward Mark
General Operation Manager.
Western Union Department
Telephone Number: +229_62521040

Anti-fraud resources: