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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: philips.adams300@ig.com.br
Reply-To: wuwesternunionmoneytransfer0@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:48:49 +0200
Subject: Western Union Payments


Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Western Union(R) Welcome to Western UnionSend Money Worldwide

Dear Customer,
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of
$800.000.00 USD Eight hundred thousand united state dollars directed in cash
credited to file KTU/9023118308 at the owner of this email address.
The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND in Conjunction with WORLD BANK AUDITORS
contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your
allocated security code. They said that they choose to send it to an email
address instead of a name.
We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, so we
require some more information in order to complete this transfer.
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:

In order to resolve this problem,please email via Western Union Solicitors
Fund Verification Department:
(wuwesternunionmoneytransfer0@gmail.com) As soon as this information is
received,and you have complied with the requirements of payment of the
western union charges $175USD, payment will be made to your nominated bank
account or at the counter directly from The Western Union Transfering Bank.

Note: That this is not one of those Benin repulic du cotonou west African
scams that all they are after is to ripe you off your money and at the end
you wil not receive your funds, but note that this is no scam and is
directly from the.
Management of Western Union Money Transfer United Kingdom Head Office and
our Motto is To Serve You Better. Contact us on our website on
www.westernunion.com also note that you would be responsible for any payment
that is needed for the transfer of your funds into your nominated bank
account or at the counter directly from the Western Union Transferring Bank.

THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, UNITED KINGDOM HEAD OFFICE.
DISPATCHED THIS DAY .
Sincerely,
Mr Philips Adams
www.westernunion.com
(wuwesternunionmoneytransfer0@gmail.com) Western Union(R) Welcome to Western
UnionPhone:+229-9390 26 04 Send Money Worldwide.
www.westernunion.com
Western Union Payments

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