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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: "HSBC BANK PLC WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER NIG REP." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <enquirydept@ovi.com>
Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 19.39.12 +0200
Subject: YOUR $10.000 DOLLARS IS READY FOR PICK UP CONTACT US NOW

WELCOME TO HSBC BANK PLC WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER NIG REP.
WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION
10 ISLAND ROAD,MANAGER/HEAD OF DEPT
TINUBU SQUARE, WESTERN UNION NIGERIA
REGION: REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA , AMOUNT INVOLVED: ($10.5 M)
TEST PERIOD: NIL, BENEFICIARY.
 
 
PLEASE YOU ARE ADVISE TO GO TROUGH THIS EMAIL CAREFULLY AND MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND AND READY TO COMPLY WITH THE CONTENTS BEFORE REPLYING TO IT. WE ARE INSTRUCTED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TO TRANSFER YOUR FUND TO YOU VIA OUR SERVICE ''WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER'' SO YOU WILL BE RECEIVING $10,000.00 USD DAILY UNTIL IT COMPLETE THE CORRECT AMOUNT ($10.5 M).
 
 
MEANWHILE YOU ARE REQUIRE TO SEND US THE TRANSFER CHARGES WHICH IS $95 USD FOR THE $10,000.00 THAT WE HAVE ALREADY REMIT TO YOUR NAME, BECAUSE WITH OUT THAT YOU CAN NOT PICK THE MONEY FOR IT IS ON HOLD.
 
 
NOTE: THE REASON WHY WE NEED YOU TO SEND US THE $95 USD IS THAT WE TRIED TO DEDUCT THE TRANSFERRING FEE OUT FROM YOUR FUND BUT THE MINISTER ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND OF NIGERIA TOLD US THAT NO ONE HAS ACESS OVER YOUR FUND AS IT HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND STAMPED THAT NO MONEY SHOULD BE DEDUCTED UNTIL IT GETS TO YOU TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING BECAUSE IF ANY ONE HAS ACCESS TO THAT IT WILL INVOLVE YOU LOOSING YOUR FUND, NO ONE HAS TO BE TRUST EVEN YOUR MOTHER OR YOUR FATHER.
 
 
HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF THE ONE WE SENT TODAY TO YOU BUT IT WILL REMAIN ON HELD UNTIL YOU SEND US OUR TRANSFER CHARGES OF $95 BEFORE WE CAN RELEASEIT TO YOU, SO YOU CAN TRACK IT WITH OUR WEB SITE. www.westernunion.com
 
 
 
(M.T.C.N):: 9261341221
SENDERS FIRST NAME:::: JOSEPH
SENDERS LAST NAME:::::UDE
SENDERS COUNTRY...NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION:::::: RECOVER
ANSWER::::::::::::: FUND
AMOUNT:::::::::::::: $10,000.00
you can also track online with the western union website
www.westernunion.com
 
Status : Available for pick up by receiver ,
 
 
FINAL UPDATE US WITH THE $95 USD TO ENABLE US PROCEED ON YOUR PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY, BELOW IS THE INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO REMIT THE $95 USD VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER BEEN OUR TRANSFERRING CHARGE FOR YOUR $10,000.00 USD.
 
 
RECEIVER NAME: MIKE MORNS
COUNTRY: LAGOS NIGERIA
TEST QUESTION: WHAT TIME?
ANSWER: NOW.
AMOUNT: $95
 
 
YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.
WARNING!! WARNING!!
 
 
Dr Benson Cole
Senior Vice President, western union money transfer ®
Emai

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