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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: "Cheryl Nadolski" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunioncenter@foxmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 03:53:47 +1000
Subject: MONEY TRANSFER NOTIFICATION

Attention Beneficiary,
 
I have contacted you because I've sent you the first payment of $5,000 this morning from your winning funds amount $1.5Million USD, Therefore you need to contact the Western Union agent Mr Tony Frank and ask  him
to give you all the transfer payment information and MTCN for pick up at Western Union.
 
Agent: Mr. Tony Frank
Email: westernunioncenter@foxmail.com
Phone:+229 96509261
 
Please try and contact him today ask him to furnish you with the payment information, Remember to Indicate the funds registration code of WU-M6050 to him when E-mailing or calling him. Also he will be
sending you $5,000.00 daily as per our office discussion with his office, Also send the following information as listed below.
 
Your Full Name:
Your Address:
Your Country:
Your City:
Your Phone Number:
Your Occupation:
 
Do get in touch with us once you have received the money. Please copy this email: westernunioncenter@foxmail.com and paste before  replying to them or simply call him at hIS phone number: +229 96509261 and have
him give you those information.
 
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cheryl C. Nadolski ESQ
IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR
BENIN REPUBLIC
E-mail: cherylyoung@pochta.com

Anti-fraud resources: