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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: "vcosta" <vcosta@pmlf.ba.gov.br>
Reply-To: westernu9@w.cn
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:27:30 -0300
Subject: Message From Western Union Office

Welcome To Western® Union Office
Western Union Corporation Headquarter.
REF NO: 245/0090/11
BATCH: 2010/wumt/393

Dear Western Union Customer,

Western Union Corporation wish to notify you as we celebrates the 156th
year anniversary, this is to inform you that your E-mail Address has
just won you a consolation prize of the Western Union Award Bonanza 2011,
Email Draw held on March 19th 2011, You have been awarded with the sum of
$300,000.00USD by Western Union Money Transfer, Your email indicating you as a winner
in the lottery programs held by the Western Union Money Transfer. Your email address
was selected through the computer ballot system drawn from over 25,000,000 email
addresses.

This award was selected through the internet, where your e-mail address
was indicated and notified. It is a Grand Donation from the United Nation
to support individuals financially due to the global and financial
economic meltdown. Your email address was selected globally as one of the
beneficiaries this year. You are required to forward the below information
to Mr. Bruce Anthony (Western Union District Officer) for your prize
processing.

NAME:
FULL HOUSE ADDRESS:
CITY/STATE:
NATIONALITY:
DATE OF BIRTH:
SEX:
MARITAL STATUS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:

Note: your award security information (Data File Number: NG/9420X2/68,
Ref. Code: 0087955827499, Grant Number: WUMT/0080648302/07)

CONTACT PERSON.
Mr. Bruce Anthony (Western Union District Officer)
Telephone Number: +2348075700974
Emails: westernu9@w.cn

MRS. SARAH WILSON
WESTERN UNION ONLINE CONDINATOR

Thank you for using Western Union!

Anti-fraud resources: