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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union <info@wu.com>
Reply-To: wumtonline1@live.com
Date: Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:19:41 +0200
Subject: Western Union 2012 Lucky =?UTF-8?Q?Draws=E2=80=8F?=


--
Welcome To Western Union Office

We wish to inform you that the UNITED NATIONS have donated the sum of
$300,000.00 USD through our Western Union Money Transfer service to you for
the upkeep of people round the world and you fall to be one of the lucky
beneficiaries. We have been instructed to end you the total sum of
$300,000.00 (USD) through our Western Union Money Transfer service.

Contact us with your Name, address and Telephone Number so as to enable us
process your payment of $300,000.00 USD and provide you with the M.T.C.N
numbers to enable you claim your Money in any of our Western Union Money
Transfer Office in your Country.
Reply through this E-mail Address ( wumtonline1@live.com )

Regards
Mr. Pastor Timothy Amiamiye
Western Union Transfer Manager
wumtonline1@live.com
Tel: +2348078386226

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