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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 WESLEY PETERS." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion_service20@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2014 21:29:03 +0800
Subject: ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY

ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY
This is to notify you about the latest development concerning all the payment that is left in our custody in which yours are inclusive, you were given a bill of $100.00 in order to receive your payment of which we didn’t hear from you for some time now.
 
Hence, our Western Union is now offering a special BONUS to help all our customers that are having their payment in our custody. In order words we are now requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $80.00 to receive all their payment abandoned in our custody.
 
 
Besides this is an opportunity for you of which you are to comply and your funds shall be transferred to your designated address. But remember after (3DAYS) you don’t make the payment, then we will divert your funds to Government Fund to avoid problem or we shall cancel the payment for this year until next year
because this year is not like previous year. Again after (3DAYS) we shall commence a new project for the year and that is the reason why we decided to help all our customers before the new project begins.
 
 
We advise you make the payment of $80.00 immediately so your payment can be registered for you to receive $5,000 as from tomorrow.
Be advice that there is no time again for us to call any person on phone unless you call + 234-803-363-1676, E-mail (westernunion_service20@yahoo.com) After the payment of $80.00 you will start receiving your money every day $5,000 through Western Union, Send the money through Western Union Money Transfer with the information below:
 
 
Sender’s Name:
Receiver's name: Cobham Bassey Tony Ene
Sender’s country:
Country: Lagos Nigeria.
Text Question: urgent
Text Answer: urgent
Amount: $
MTCN:
 
 
The moment i receive the payment of $80.00, i will release the first payment information of $5,000 to you, to access you pick up the money and also another will be sent to you, hope to hear from you ASAP.
 
REGARDS
MR WESLEY PETERS.
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE
Western Union BONUS to help all our customers

Anti-fraud resources: