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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: Shirley Pius <shirleyconvenant@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion@mail15.com
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 10:26:24 +0100
Subject: Re: Your Western Union Money Transfer

Our Ref : WUMT0XX2/987.
06/04/2014

Dear :
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount
of US$1.5 Million directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03,
at the owner of this email address. The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
contacted us for the release of your fund some couple of hour's ago,
due to your allocated security code they choose to transfer it to you
through Western Union but we are unable to complete a transfer
directed at an email address, so we require more information in order
to complete
this transfer as listed below.

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
YOUR PASSPORT:

Note: It's directly from the Management of Western Union Money
Transfer Benin Republic Head Office and our Motto is to "SERVE YOU
BETTER". we will be sending you US$5,000 per transfer because to
transfer the total fund into your account will cost you more that is
why they has given us order to sending it via WESTERN UNION.
Contact us on our
E-mail : westernunion@mail15.com
Phone number : +229-99 81 66 47

Thanks,
Management. (303)

Anti-fraud resources: