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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
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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 beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:18:21 +0000
Subject: YOU HAVE TO PICK UP THE WESTERN UNION BEFORE 15 WORKING DAYS



Dear Beneficiary,
With all due respect, I am written to you inregards of you over payment you made during in the processes of receiving your over due contract payment from Central Bank Of Nigeriaand offshore payment.



The panel of inquiry have mandated us to returnUSD$8,500 to you which has been already wired back to you through western union money transfer, Here is the Control number (MTCN -3577962011 ) the question is Return and Answer is you.



You are adviceto go to western union money transfer office to pick-up your return$8,500 with this control number, test question and answer above andadvice to stop any further payment to any person or any office until youreceive this money because you over paid.
Thanks for your cooperation.

Mrs. E.Benson WARNING !!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU HAVE TO PICK UP THE WESTERN UNION BEFORE 15 WORKING DAYS OR THE TRANSACTION WILL BE CANCELED, PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY.ONCE YOU RECEIVE THIS MASSAGE
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam