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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: western union <cons------office2@att.net>
Reply-To: westernunion00b@globomail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:33:37 -0800 (PST)
Subject: MTCN===========2850823121




FROM OFFICE OF  WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER. COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
ADDRESS 458 ,ANKPA ROAD LAGOTES PALA
MY DIRECT PHONE LINE IS  +229-98091364
E-MAIL {westernunion00b@globomail.com}
===================================================================   ATTENTION:
            
INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS NOW, STATES THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 24HOURS TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR MTCN TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST $5,000:00 FROM YOUR TOTAL (FUND) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM,TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.YOU ARE TO PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE FROM $49 UP FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE; WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT.
 
HERE IS THE YOUR Available for pick up by receiver BELOW.
Sender name===========  nwekwu miracle
Test question======== WHAT COLOR  
Test answer:============  blue
Amount======== == = $5,000
MTCN===========2850823121
 
BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR ACTIVATION UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST 5,000:00 USD, ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO DEACTIVATE YOUR MTCN OF WHICH YOU WILL AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE SUM
I WANT YOU TO SEND THE RENEWING AND TRANSFER FEE  WITH THE INFORMATION BELLOW.
 
1.RECEIVER NAME:.............nwekwu miracle
2.COUNTRY:.............  BENIN REPUBLIC .
3.CITY :............... COTONOU .
4..TEST QUESTION:....HONEST
5.TEST ANSWER:......TRUST.
 
SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE  WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST RECIEPT OF YOUR $5000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW.
REGARDS MY DIRECT PHONE LINE IS +229-98091364  REV JOHN S CHUKWU

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