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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: MR JOHN KENNETH <williansmuba@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: western_unionb@w.cn
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 01:29:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: This Message Is From The Western Union To The Owner Of This E-mail,


Attn, Dear
 Western union customer.
This Message Is From The Western Union To The Owner Of This E-mail,
How Are You Today, I Write To Inform You That We Have Already Sent You USD5000.00 Dollars Through Western Union As We Have Been Given The Mandate To Transfer Your Full Compensation Payment Total Sum Of US 2.5 Million Via Western Union As Instructed 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's Name So That You Will Pick Up This USD $5000.00 To Enable Us Send Another Today As You Know We Will Be Sending You Only USD5000.00 Per Daily.
Please Run To Western Union To Pick Up The $USD5000.00 And Call Me Back To Send You Another Payment Today,
 
 Direct Phone Line Is: +229 99 375240, Manager MR. ANTHONY UDE   Email: (  ) Call Or Email Me Once You Picked Up This USD5000.00. Here Is The Western Union Information To Pick Up The Money:
 
Mtcn numbers ……… 6492004375
Senders Name………..John Chukwuma
 
Amount's $5,000.00 I am Waiting For Your Call Once You Pick Up The Money.
 
MEANWHILE YOU ARE REQUIRE TO SEND US THE TRANSFERING FEE WHICH IS $275 USD FOR THE WHOLE TRANSFER CHARGES, THAT WE HAVE ALREADY REMITTED TO YOUR NAME,
 
SO WITHOUT THE TRANSFER FEE YOU CAN NOT PICK THE MONEY FOR IT'S ON HOLD AND THE MTCN CANNOT BE RELEASED TO YOU UNTILL YOU SEND THE TRANSFER FEE, THAT IS AN INSTRUNCTION FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTERY OF FINANCE (FMF).
 
 Please Email Me Your Direct Telephone Number Because I Need To Be Calling You Once We Send Any Payment For This Information's.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE TRANSFER CHARGE SO THAT YOUR FIRST PAYMENT WILL BE RELEASE TO YOU FOR ANOTHER TO BE SENT IMMEDIATELY.
 
RCEIVER NAME....  Ojiakor R Dibor
COUNTRY ..........BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY .......................COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION........ A
TEXT ANSWERE........ B
AMOUNT..................$275 USD
 
Thanks
MR.JOHN KENNETH
 



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