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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 UnionX" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wu_center000@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:18:13 -0400
Subject: Re: DEAR BENEFICIARY KINDLY DO PICK UP YOUR WESTERN UNION MTCN # 569 362 1833FOR 2012BATCH!!!!!

Re: DEAR BENEFICIARY KINDLY DO PICK UP YOUR WESTERN UNION MTCN # 569 362 1833FOR 2012BATCH!!!!!


To The Owner Of This E-mail, How are you today, I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 US dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of US1.5million,via Western Union by
our Government. I was calling your telephone number to give you the information through phone but you did not pick up my calls throughout that yesterday even this morning. Now, I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you will pick up this $5000.00 to enable us send another $5000.00 today as you know we will be sending you only
$5000.00 per day.

Please pick up this information and run to western union to pick up the $5000.00 and call me back to send you another payment today, payment officer Mr Peter Guidry Email: (wu_center000@yahoo.co.jp ) call or email me once you picked up this $5000.00 today. Here is the Western Union information to pick up the Money;

SENDER'S NAME: William Phillips
MTCN: 977-477-0040
AMOUNT:$5,000.00 US DOLLARS
TEXT QUESTION:WHAT COLOUR
TEXT ANWSER:RED

I am waiting for your call once you pick up this $5000.00,Please email me your direct telephone number because I need to be calling you once we send any payment for the information.


Thanks

Mr Peter Guidry

Payment Officer Western Union
Lagos Nigeria
Direct Contact Email: wu_center000@yahoo.co.jp
Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union

Anti-fraud resources: