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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: "Dr. Williams Daniel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westerunionworldwide@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 18:41:00 -0400
Subject: Your Western Union Payment//

Your Western Union Payment//
Attention Beneficiary:

Your western union payment of $5000 dally will be canceled. The management of western union office department Nigeria wishes to inform you that we are in receipt of issuing your pick up information of $5000 dally, but we get an information from your agent instructs us to cancel your transaction. He said you refused to send him the delivering fee of $290 usd which he will use for the tax clearance and that is why he want' us to cancel your western union payment. So you are advised to contact us immediately and tell us what is going on. You can contact our manager. Rev. Ben Koswell, on this ID (western.unionworldwide@live.co.uk) his direct tell is +234-803-567-8892 and sends your full address direct call phone number and name to him. Before we can take any action.

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Williams Daniel.

Anti-fraud resources: