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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 Pay-out Gold card <info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 22:23:31 +0100
Subject: Gold Card Visa debit cards are accepted 3,000.00.Per-day

Attention Please.
I am Ganesh Amoorthy. I am auditor General of Western Union, Benin
Republic, I have only been recently appointed and transferred from Benin
Republic. On commencement of my duties here, I discovered a pending
transfer of US$500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars) in
the system, but now, we have decided to send you your fund by western union
gold card.

I promptly informed the Benin Republic Government and it was agreed that
the funds be refunded to either the Sender or the initial Receiver. I
intend to input your name as the initial Receiver on the western union gold
card. I am contacting you to come across with names which you could use to
withdraw 3,000.00.per day on your western union gold card, until money is
cleared from the system. It is very important that you respond urgently. In
case you are wondering, I got your email off an internet index.
Please Visit the https://wugoldcard.mycardplace.com/cholder/

Your Card Number is: 4146650304178790 use it in the 1st time Signing in
and clicks proceed to verify the transfer . In addition to the initial
activation you will receive your PIN and your Western Union Gold Card when
the following fees are paid . Your Western Union Gold Card can be used
for cash withdrawals anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted 3,000.00.per
day, even online transfe ! or just hand it to the Western Union Agent
clerk to Withdraw cash for you. the proof is that you have to go into our
website and track your card number.

Below is the fee that you have to pay before the pin number can be release
to you.

1. Transaction Fee for purchases with WU Gold Card : $ 10.00
2. Account Administrative Adjustment Fee : $ 5.00
3. Western Union Load fee: $ 5.00
4. First PIN selection Activation fee: $ 7.00
5. Priority Shipping Fee: $ 10.00
6. Total Amount---------: $32.

You are advice to send the fee with the below details by western union
only: Payment should be made via western union only.

1. RECEIVER NAME... ONYEKACHI JAMES
2. COUNTRY... BENIN REPUBLIC.
3. CITY... COTONOU .Add : 11 Missebo cotonou 2 Cotonou -Benin.
5. TEXT QUESTION... what colure TEXT ANSWER... white
7.Amount …$32
Forward the MTCN NUMBER xxx xxx xxx x. senders name and your postal
address.

We assure you that your WESTERN UNION ATM GOLD CARD AND ALL THE NEEDED
INFORMATION will reach you immediately we receive the complete
requirement needed from you. The government has permited me to ensure that
all western union gold card must be transferred in the next 24 hours to the
receiver. Please email us back at Email:
info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com

Please send me the following information;

Name:
Address:
Phone:
Occupation:
Waiting to hear from you soon.

Best regards,
Ganesh Amoorthy

Anti-fraud resources: