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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: Western Union Money Transfer <westernu@info.al>
Reply-To: western2010@info.al
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:17:23 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Western Union--Step into a World of Opportunity;



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10 BP 1077 Boulevard
Catchi


Tel/fax: 00 229 6627
8781



I was trying to reach you on
phone but all my attempts was on no avail due to network.
 
This is an
official notice to you regarding your US$2.5 Million which was gazetted to be
paid through Western Union Payment system; right now the West African government
has instructed all the financial institutions in West Africa to return any
unclaimed funds/payment within 7days; and your payment may be cancelled after
this 7days official notice. However, at western union money transfer, we are
committed to helping people and businesses by providing affordable, reliable and
convenient payment services. Therefore we have decided to notify you on this
development, what is required now to complete your payment is $182 only and we
will complete the rest and proceed the transfer on the following day.
 
I
am commited to keep wash over your funds transfer and the Regional Director of
all the Western Union branches in West Africa and it of good pleasure to serve
our customers the best we could. So in this regards, I will like you to
co-operate with me to  retrieve this legal payment of yours than allowing the
government of this country to forfeit it. I believe it is a life time
opportunity which every reasonable human-being will never allow to slip by. Be
rest assured that upon receipt of this $310 today, you will the first payment of
US$10.000 first thing on tomorrow morning. Be rest assured that every procedure
to be followed up in this project is legal,
 
Holly, bear it in mind that
as long as you are ready to follow my instructions as the insider and initiator
of these transaction scheme, then you have nothing to worry about because this
transaction was conceptualized with a lot of consideration given to the laws
guiding Western Union here in West Africa and international level. So, all I
want you to know in ths transfer is that you suppose to have confidence in me
and commit your TIME, EFFORT and SINCERITY to receive your funds while I would
feed you with the necessary details needed to ensure your claim goes out
smoothly this time without any further hitch. On this note, I want to re-assure
you once more that the procedure to be adopted in processing and effecting the
transfer is fully official and legallly adopted correctly.
 
We
are an international money transfer with high-performance and trusted by
consumers across the World.

Thank you so much for your
anticipated compliance and apopreciation to my efforts so far as I wait on
hearing from you today with the Western Union MTCN proff of payment.
 
The US$310 should be paid through Western
Union as stated below.
1. RECEIVER NAME:............ 
Chukwuma Samuel
2. COUNTRY:..........                 Benin
3.
CITY:.........                           Contonu
4. TEST
QUESTION:................... Honest
5. TEST ANSWER:......                
Trust.
6. AMOUNT:...................              $182 USD

I look forward
to the pleasure of your kind favourable response fairly soon, in the meantime
with kindest regards and best wishes.
 
 
 Yours faithfully,
Mr. Khalid
FELLAHI
Regional Vice
President Africa
Step into a World
of Opportunity; Take Your Career to Western Union Money
Transfer;




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