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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: "Mrs.Femida Rashid" <maryedeh@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: femidarashid@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:29:42 +0100
Subject: Western Union(R)


***Western Union(R)*

*Welcome to Western Union*

Send Money Worldwide

*Western Union(R) Welcome to WesternUnion Send Money Worldwide
*
*Attention: Receiver,
*
*There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of
$2000.000.00 USD Two hundred thousand united state dollars directed in cash
credited to file KTU/9023118308 at the owner of this email address.*
**
*The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 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: **(westernunioncounter@yahoo.fr**) ** 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. *
**
*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.co.uk* <http://www.westernunion.co.uk/>* 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, *
*Mrs. Mary Edeh. *
*
**www.westernunion.co.uk* <http://www.westernunion.co.uk/>
*(westernunioncounter@yahoo.fr**) Western Union(R) Welcome to Western
Union Send Money Worldwide.*
*
**www.westernunion.co.uk* <http://www.westernunion.co.uk/>
*Western Union Payments*

***Western Union(R)*

*Welcome to Western Union!!!*
*Send Money Worldwide*

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