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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Western=20Union?= <westernunionoffice95@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: westernunion96@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 05:38:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re:Your payment/MTCN.


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:westernunionoffice95@yahoo.com.co



- Dear client, Your Inheritance funds US$1.2 million file has been refer to this department (Western union office) for payment.We will be paying you the sum of US$3,000.00 only per a day until the funds is finished.Bellow is information of the first payment for pick up via western union: SENDER:ALEX NNABUE ADDRESS: COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC TEXT QUESTION: FOR WHAT TEXT ANSWER: PAYMENT AMOUNT: US$3,000.00 MTCN:485-053-2914 Please, Confirm the receipt of this first Installmental payment for our recording purposes. Yours in service Rev.Alex Nnabue, Phone: +229-970-261-31 FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC.


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