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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 Money Transfer®" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunionusamail@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:22:34 -0700
Subject: Your Western Union Compensation Funds of US$2,500.000.00 Alert 13th of August 2012

How are you today? I write to inform you that we have already sent you US$5000.00 through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment of US$2,500.000.00 via western union by this government. I called to give you the information through phone as internet hackers were many but i couldn’t reach you yesterday even this morning.So,I decided to email you the MTCN and sender’s name so that you can pick up this US$5000.00 to enable us send another US$5000.00 by tomorrow as you know we will be sending you only US$5000.00 per day. Please pick up this information and go to any western union outlet in your country to pick up the US$5000.00 and email me back so as to send you another payment tomorrow. Mr Lyd Brown Manager Western Union, Nigeria Email: westernunionusamail@yahoo.co.jp Email Mr. Lyd Brown! once you have picked up this US$5000.00 Here is the western union information to pick up the your first Payment batch of S$5000.00 MTCN: 977-477-0040 Sender’s Name: Mr William Phillips Test Question: Honest Test Answer: Trust Amount: $5000.00USD I am waiting for your response once you have picked it up your first batch Payment. Thanks Mr Kunle Clive Director, Compensation Dept Lagos Nigeria Western Union Money Transfer®

Anti-fraud resources: