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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: "MR. MELVIN UDAH."<wu_department009@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 13:21:05 +0200
Subject: UNCLAIMED FUNDS PAYMENT NOTIFICATION !!

BANQUE CENTRALE DES ETATS DE L'AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST
Agence Principale De Ave. Jean Paul II Cotonou,
BP 325 Cotonou, Benin Rep. Telex : 5211 BCEAO COTONOU .
Tel:Tel:+229-665 69553,Fax: +229 (93) 13-871-8
Attention and Greetings!
I am Mr.Melvin Udah, the Director in charge of Treasury Department,International wire transfers and Western Union Department of BANQUE CENTRALE DES ETATS DE L'AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST (BCEAO) Benin Republic.
 
You are to reply through this my official alternative email address ( wu_department_office@yahoo.fr ) for security reasons because this is to inform you that your fund file was brought to my desk because the Director & management in the Ministry Of Finance office and some other payment bank officers have declared to divert your fund to the government treasury account just because you can not pay the wire transfer fee as they complained. In reasoning wisely to this complains i told them to wait until i hear from you so that i will know the reason why you decide to reject your funds totalling USD$3.7Million which is your rightful & legal overdue inheritance payment just because of the transfer fee. The reason why i sent this email to you is because its your sweat and and the efforts you have putting into this for all these years,for this reason you still have this last chance to claim your fund if you can send Usd$98.50 today because i have already arranged your wires ready for its daily wires to you b
Therefore,you are advise to get back to me and i will direct you on how to send the Usd$98.50 immediately you receive this email today and you are also advise to re-confirm these info to me ; full name,address,Age, latest occupation and phone number to contact you to give you the transfer details once we are through,this is if you want your USD$3.7M to be send to you by western union money transfer but "NOTE " that the maximum amount officially allow you to receive per day day is USD$4,500.00 until you receive your complete USD$3.7M from here.
The second option is for you to send me the full detail of your bank account if you want your fund to be fully transfer by direct bank to bank wire transfer to your account at once. After you have sent the Usd$98.50 and email me the MTCN #, you are to indicate your wish to receive your funds as i have stated above and the funds will be release to you without any delay or hitch.
Am waiting for your urgent response on this very important matter.
Yours Faithfully.
Mr.Melvin A. Udah.
Treasury Department,International Wire transfers,
BANQUE CENTRALE DES ETATS DE L'AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST (BCEAO)
Emails; ( wu_department_office@yahoo.fr )/ ( wu_department009@yahoo.co.jp )
Tel/ Tel:+229-665 69553
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