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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: Edward Will <edward_will8@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: w_estemunion@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:11:57 +0300
Subject: HOW ARE YOU =?UTF-8?Q?TODAY=3F?=



--
Attn: Beneficiary

Pick up your ($5,000) payment by western union now we have arranged your
payment of $800.000.00 united state dollars in atm payment card to be sent
to you through western union money transfer payment.Your payment will be
sending to you by western union, the amount you will receive per day is
$5,000.

The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently
standards track details you need to pick up your ($5,000) payment by
western union, you will receive every day till you receive the
($800.000.00) united state dollars, now no need to send you this atm card
because you can not be able to withdraw the atm card due to the atm master
card contain large money on it.

The director administrtor trust funds have already signed your
payment,however,contact the below person who is in position to release your
payment by western union $5,000 a day.

Mr. John Edward, western union department, Financial Bank Benin,
Mobile:+229 98 90 81 73
E-mail: w_estemunion@yahoo.com.hk

The financial western union payment center has been mandated to issue out
your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other
person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment.

Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to process
your payment:

Receiver name----------------
Country-----------------------
City--------------------------
Tel---------------------------
Test question-----------------
Answer------------------------
ID_____________________

Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to. Mr John
Edward ,he will start sending your payment by western union.

Best Regards,
Mr Edward Will

Anti-fraud resources: