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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: Money Gram <officialfile010@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mgram913@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:58:25 +0100 (BST)
Subject: MONEGRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER.




MONEGRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER
VITAL FINANCE BANK .COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
LOCATION. RUE BPH141 KINGSTON AVENUE COTONOU BENIN.
MR.TONY CHRIS.
CALL ME ON TEL:+229-6631-3372
E-MAIL: mgram913@yahoo.com.hk


Attn;My Dear,
 
I write to inform you that we already issued those documents to accompany your $5,000 payment each day. But the only problem we are having right here is your personal signatures which the Federal Administer of Fund Benin Republic requested that you must sign those documents before we can transfer funds to you. However, I told the officer in charge that it will not be necessary for you to come down here due to your occupation or some other thing that may not allow you to come down here to sign those documents yourself. The Minster Administrator of Fund said that you should get an attorney to sign on your behalf if you are unable to come down here in person.
 
I think this way is the best and the only way forward for you to receive the funds. I have negotiated with an attorney who would sign on your behalf. His name is Sam Floyd. According to him you are to pay for the accredited attorney. He is charging $158.00 to be paid before he gets those documents signed in your favor. I told him to consider signing those documents on your behalf today with a promise that you would pay him back from the $5,000 payment you suppose to receive tomorrow morning if he gets those documents signed today.
 
And his respond is that you have to pay the accredited attorney fee of $158.00 before signing those documents. Well, I asked him for the very last time if he could allow you pay half of his fee today with a promise that you would pay him the Remain balance tomorrow from your $5,000 payment at the western union office once you pick up the $5,000 payment. Well, he said that you should pay the half of the fee $89.00 through western union today. He want me to ask you if you would be so kind to pay him back the remain $79.00 balance at the western union office once you picked up the $5,000 pay out each day. I am hereby this writing to ask you to let me know if you would pay his balance immediately you pick up the $5,000 payment.
 
He wants you to pay half of $79.00 today if you are so kind to pay the balance at the western union office once you picked up the $5,000 payment tomorrow. But if you are not kind enough to pay his balance after picking the first transfer just do not bother yourself not to reply because I won’t see another attorney here to do this. Here is information for you to pay $79.00 half of his fee through western union today.
 
Send The half of the fee $79.00 today via Money Gram or Western Union ;

SENDER'S NAME:.......................
RECEIVER NAME:...... OBUKA EMMANUEL
COUNTRY:........BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:............COTONOU
TEST QUESTION:..YOU
TEST ANSWER:....YES
AMOUNT:....$79.00
MTCN.........

The attorney will get those documents signed as soon as he confirms the half of his fee from you. I will advice you to pay him the half of $79.00 and let him sign the documents and you will then pay the other balance of $79.00 form your $5,000 payment.
 
I await your compliance.

Sincerely,
Money Transfer Department
Mr.Tony Chris,
Call me on Tel:+229-6631-3372

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