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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: "MRS JOY WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unionbenin001@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:18:06 +0100
Subject: YOUR PAYMNET IS READY .

Western Union® Welcome to Western Union WESTERN UNION OFFICE ENGLAND Send Money Worldwide Contact Payment department ; Miss Grace Smith Contact Email: unionbenin001@yahoo.com It is obvious that you have not received your fund which is to the some of ($1.240,000.00) due to past corrupt Government Officials who almost held the fund to themselves for their selfish reason and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund. The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by the United Nations and Federal Bureau of Investigation have successfully passed a mandate to the current QUEEN of ENLAND to boost the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owned to you and other individuals/contractors and organizations who have been found not to have receive their Contract/Lottery/Merit Fund/Inheritance etc. I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE MINISTER OF FINANCE DR BEN JOHNSON HAS ORDERED THAT THE ONLY MONEY YOU WILL SEND NOW IS JUST $150 US DOLLARS SO THAT WE WILL START SENDING TO YOU YOUR $5000 US DOLLARS DAILY UNTIL YOUR TOTAL FUND OF ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND US DOLLARS ($1.240,000.00) IS PAID TO YOU AND IF YOU FAIL TO COMPLY BY SENDING THIS FEE WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THIS ORDER,YOUR TOTAL FUND WOULD BE CONFISCATED AND IT WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO GOVERNMENT PURSE,HE SAID THAT THIS IS THE FINAL ORDER. SO I URGE YOU TO TRY AND SEE THAT YOU SEND THE $150 US DOLLARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL TODAY SO THAT WE WILL FINALIZE EVERY THING TODAY,BY TOMORROW,YOU WILL START RECEIVING YOUR FIRST $5000 US DOLLARS DAILY,YOU URGE TO RESEND YOUR CURRENT INFORMATION SUCH AS YOUR PHONE NUMBER ADDRESS AND FULL NAME IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID DELAY. Your name................... Country..................... Phone no.................... Address/city................ Age/sex..................... BELOW ARE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO SEND THE $150 US DOLLARS ONLY . RECEIVER NAME..........GRACE SMITH COUNTRY.................England QUESTION...............How Are You ANSWER..................Fine AMOUNT..................$150 MTCN............ AS SOON AS THE PAYMENT IS BEEN MADE YOU ARE TO HAVE THE INFORMATION SENT TO THE MISS GRACE SMITH. SO SHE CAN CONFRIM THE PAYMENT SO YOUR MONEY CAN BE SEND TO YOU WITHOUT ANY DELAY .BLOW IS MISS Grace Smith CONACTE SO AS SOON AS YOU HAVE THE MTCN YOU CAN SEND IT TO HIM FOR CONFIRMATION . Name : MISS Grace Smith Contact Email: unionbenin001@yahoo.com, IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE OR YOU NEED TO ASK ANY QUESTION YOU ARE TO CONTACT MRS Grace Smith BECAUSE HE IS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF YOUR FUNDS . WAITING TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY, Mrs JOY WILLIAMS FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER WESTERN UNION OFFICE ENGLAND THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE ( 829) Western Union® Welcome to Western Union union001@yahoo.com

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