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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" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wu60@gala.net>
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:49:17 -0700
Subject: reply now and be fast at it

Attention:Receiver.

This is to notify you that you have been compensated with two million USD on your loss by the Ghanaian and West African government in collaboration with other international bodies, so contact directly your payment agent



Mr.Richard Martins
Email: wu34@gala.net


Proving your receiving information as follow, Name,Gender,Country,City, identification number or passport copy,Phone number and occupation; upon receipt of your information he shall provide you the transfer schedule and transfer details of your two million United States dollars payment as compensation by the government via our service.

Congratulations,

Signed,

James Cutiz.
WESTERN UNION ZONAL
CONTINENTAL OPERATIONS

Anti-fraud resources: