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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: "Barr. Goodluck Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westenunionbenin2009@zbavitu.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:48:31 +0200
Subject: Our Pleasure To Be At Your Service.

Attention Please,

We are sending you this alert to notify you that we have already sent you $5000.00 United State Dollars through our Western Union Office as we have given the mandate to transfer your full Inheritance payment the total sum of $1,800,000.00 (One Million Eight Hundred thousand United State Dollars) via Western Union by the Federal Government Authority.

We have tried so many time to E-mail you since yesterday with the Western Union payment Details but the messages kept showing failure delivery, But luckily we try re-send the email to you this morning with the Western Union payment information to enable you pick up the money from any outlet of the Western Union around you, here is the MTCN and Sender Name so that you will pick up the $5000.00 United State Dollars to enable us send another $5000.00 right away, for your information we can only transfer three payments to you a day which is $15,000.00 USD.

Please copy all this information and find any outlet Western Union to pick up the $5000.00 don't hesitate to call us back for your second payment right away, our direct phone line is (+229) 9605 8280 Manager: Mr. John Gomez, (E-mail:westenunionbenin2009@zbavitu.net) call or E-mail us once you pick up this $5000.00USD today.

These are the details which you will use to pick up your first $5000.00
MTCN: ___________ 361-987-3308
Sender First Name: ______ Octave
Sender Last Name _________Terorotua
Country _________ Benin
Amount:______________________ $5000

We are waiting for your call once you pick up this $5000.00 Please E-mail us your direct telephone number because we need to be calling you whenever we send any payment to you.

Our Pleasure To Be At Your Service.
Phone: (+229) 9605 8280
E-mail: (westenunionbenin2009@zbavitu.net)

Barr. Goodluck Brown.

Anti-fraud resources: