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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: "Mr. Paul Turner" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunionpayment62@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:09:53 -0500
Subject: e: WESTERN UNION PAYMENT MTCN FOR YOU

MR.PAUL TURNER (Director).
Western Union Head-office,
West Africa Zonal Office,
Phone: +2348025184999

Reference to the payment-order from the United Nations Funds Payment
Office, Ecowas zone, our office was mandate to release your payments
valued $600,000:00 USD to your name as compensation from the agency due to
your inability to receive the total funds from bank to bank wire transfer.
We have just send the first of $5,000 USD to you right now.

Down here is the payment information except Question and answer. It is
programmed $5,000 USD per day to your name. You can track the payment
online with sender's name and MTCN on this website below to see the
availability of the first $5000:00 USD.

Click or copy here and paste:
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global

Transfer (MTCN):...... 8793546914
Sender's First Name:.. Ifeanyi
Sender's Last Name:.. Iwunor
Amount sent: $5,000 USD

The total funds on your name here is $600,000.00. Quickly get back to us
to enable us give you the question and answers so that you can pick-up the
available funds today.

Reply now for your payment collection today with your full name, address
and direct phone number to our customer care: westernunionpayment60@yahoo.com

You can call phone line: +2348025184999 for confirmations.

Sincerely,

Mr. Paul Turner
Western Union Zonal Director.
Phone: +2348025184999

Anti-fraud resources: