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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: timothybent@mykind.info
Reply-To: woodspatman74@aol.com
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:39:15 -0500
Subject: Any banks that is contacting you without website is scam


Over 380,000 Locations Worldwide
Send Money Worldwide

Attention:Western Union Beneficiary,

Payment Order #: WUMT-8880635/2011

This is the Western Union Money Transfer® - Money in Minutes service

Your Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) is 9500834460
Thanks for your correspondence. Western Union Payment Center has received your
application for the release of your daily payment. Be advised that it has been
designated that the sum of $7,600.00 USD (Seven Thousand Six Hundred United
States Dollars) be paid to you daily using Western Union Money Transfer service
as approved by the U.N and the IMF till we send you a total of $1,500,000.00 USD
(One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

Your first installment of $7,600.00 USD has now been sent. See transaction
details below;

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TRANSACTION DETAILS:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

MTCN___ 9500834460
first name:___Appoline
Second Name: ___Ouedraoge
Text Question:___When
Answer: ____2Hours
Amount Sent:- $7,600.00 USD
WILL RECEIVER HAVE A VALID ID?:- YES


The amount can not be picked up at this time. This is due to the fact that you
will need to activate your whole transaction. As a matter of urgency, in order
not to waste more of your time before you start receiving your funds, Please be
informed that you will need to activate your payment. The activation fee's for
your first transaction must be paid, before we can initiate your transaction.
And to this effect, our head of transfer department instructed us to place a
hold on the first transfer of the first $7,600 USD which we had already sent, to
avoid problems with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But not to worry
much, you will start receiving your daily installment of $7,600 USD, after we
confirm your activation payment of $267.00 USD for your activation fee, and
after that your first installment will be released to you 4 hours after your
payment for your activation is confirmed.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
At the moment, without your activation payment of $267.00 USD for your
activation fee, you can not pick up this transaction of $7,600.00 USD. We have
been advised to remove your your transaction from the system. Please be also
informed that this is a one time activation payment and you will not be required
to activate your transaction daily. Please take note.

For confirmation on your first transfer of $7,600.00 USD with the above MTCN, we
strongly advice you to visit our website at ( www.westernunion.com ), click on
"Tracking" icon, you will then be required to enter the Money Transfer Control
Number (MTCN) as well as the Sender's First and Last Name. Simply enter the
above transaction information for confirmation.

When you are ready, we will provide you with the payment details to have the
activation fee of $267.00 USD paid for to us for your activation. You will be
required to email us or give us a call to get details needed to make the payment
for your activation.

Once the payment of $267.00 USD is made by you, your first installment will be
released after 4 hours and shall be made payable to you in any Western Union
Agent locations in your state.

We await a confirmation from you, informing us when you want to settle your
activation fee needed, so you can start receiving your installment payment from
today.
Yours truly,

Dr. Mr Woods Patman
Telephone:800-933-6262
For: Western Union Payment Service.




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