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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: george athanassiadis <geoflo@vodafone.net.gr>
Reply-To: westernunionfunddept@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:33:15 +0100
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER




Western Union=AE =

Dear Sir/Madam=2C

There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER UNITED KINGDOM i=
n the amount of =24500=2E000=2E00 USD directed in cash credited to file =
KTU/9023118308/03=2C at the owner of this email address=2E The INTERNATI=
ONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours =
ago due to your allocated security code=2E =


They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a n=
ame=2E We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address=
=2C so we require some more information in order to complete this transf=
er=2E =


FULL NAME=3A
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS=3A
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER=3A
OCCUPATION=3A
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE=3A =


In order to resolve this problem=2Cplease email via Western Union Solici=
tors Fund Verification Department=3A (westernunionfunddept=40gmail=2Ecom=
) =


As soon as this information is received=2Cand you have complied with the=
requirements of payment of the western union charges =24300 which you m=
ust pay for the IMF International Monetary Fund before your fund can br =
transferd=2C payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at t=
he counter directly from The Western Union Transfering Bank=2E =


Note=3A That this is not one of those Nigerian/African scams that all th=
ey are after is to ripe you off your money and at the end you wil not re=
ceive your funds=2C but note that this is no scam and is directly from t=
he Management of Western Union Money Transfer United Kingdom Head Office=
and our Motto is To Serve You Better=2E =


Contact us on our website on www=2Ewesternunion=2Eco=2Euk also note that=
you would be responsible for any payment that is needed for the transfe=
r of your funds into your nominated bank account or at the counter direc=
tly from the Western Union Transferring Bank=2E =


THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER=2C UNITED KINGDOM HEAD OF=
FICE=2E =


DISPATCHED THIS DAY

Sincerely=2C

Dr Tom Plumber

www=2Ewesternunion=2Eco=2Euk =

Western Union Payments
Western Union=AE =

Welcome to Western Union =

Send Money Worldwide
Registered =A9 2006 - 2007 Western Union Money Transfer All Right Reserv=
ed

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam