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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: "MR.GOODLUCK JOENAT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wu@ws.tc>
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:17:52 +0100
Subject: PICK YOUR FIRST $5000 WESTERN UNION PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY!!!MTCN:794-163-1282

Attention ,

To The Owner Of This E-mail, How are you today, I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 US dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of US1.5million,via western union by our Government. I was calling your telephone number to give you the information through phone but you did not pick up my calls throughout that yesterday even this morning. Now, I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you will pick up this $5000.00 to enable us send another $5000.00 today as you know we will be sending you only $5000.00 per day.

Please pick up this information and run to western union to pick up the $5000.00 and call me back to send you another payment today, My direct phone line is; +229-98284264 or 00229-98284264, payment officer Mr.Goodluck Joenat Email:( wu@ws.tc ) call or email me once you picked up this $5000.00 today. Here is the western union information to pick up the Money;

SENDER'S NAME:Tina Heppner
MTCN: 7941631282
AMOUNT:$5,000.00 US DOLLARS
TEXT QUESTION:IN GOD
TEXT ANWSER:WE TRUST

I am waiting for your call once you pick up this $5000.00, Please email me your direct telephone number because I need to be calling you once we send any payment for the information’s.

Thanks
MR.GOODLUCK JOENAT
Payment Officer Western Union
Benin Republic
Direct contact e-mail:wu@ws.tc

Anti-fraud resources: