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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: joyceline keith <joyceline0461@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 10:48:06 +0100
Subject: ATTN:YOUR BONUS OFFER FROM WESTERN UNION.

ATTN:YOUR BONUS OFFER FROM WESTERN UNION.

THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER MANAGEMENT
HEREBY INFORM YOU THAT YOUR NAME EMERGED ON OUR SYSTEM AS ONE OF THE
ONLINE WINNING IN THE 3RD CATEGORY AND THEREFORE ATTRACTED A CASH
AWARD OF US$1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION DOLLARS).

WE ARE HERE TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR NAME APPEARS IN OUR SYSTEM AS OUR
ESTEEM PATRONIZE CUSTOMER.
THEREFORE THE MANAGEMENT HEREBY COMPENSATE YOU WITH THE ABOVE MENTION
SUM IN ORDER TO PROMOTE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM.

YOU HAVE ONLY FEW DAYS PERIOD IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL TO
CONTACT THIS OFFICE UPON THE RECEIPT OF THIS EMAIL. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT
YOU WILL BE RECEIVING PER DAY IS $10,000 IN THREE DIFFERENT PAYMENTS,
SO CALL MANAGER IN CHARGE OF YOUR PAYMENT TO RELEASE YOUR MTCN.

FURTHERMORE BE ADVISED TO CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION MANAGER WHO IS
IN-CHARGE OF YOUR TRANSFER, TO RELEASE YOUR MTCN/TRANSFER INFORMATION,
AS THE INSTRUCTION WAS PASSED THAT WITHIN FOURTEEN WORKING DAYS
WITHOUT HEARING FROM YOU. YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE CANCELLED IN ADDITION
TO THIS, THE NUMBER TO CALL / EMAIL TO RE-CONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION TO
THE WESTERN UNION TRANSFER MANAGEMENT IS LISTED BELOW:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

OFFICE OF RELEASE ORDER:
CONTACT PERSON: MR.GARY STED
TELEPHONE: +22998780441
EMAIL ADDRESS: w.unionheadquater@msn.com


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

REGARDS
MRS.JOYCE KEITH
ANNOUNCEMENT OFFCIER

CONTACT IMMEDIATELY TO RECIEVE YOUR URGENT TRANSFER THROUGH OUR

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