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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Elias Ahoueke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <www_wu@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:13:56 +0100
Subject: Good day

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
SEND MONEY WORLD WIDE.
Our Ref: WUMT/BR/IMF/08/14

Attn Honourable Beneficiary,

This is to bring to your notice that we have already sent you the first $5,000 dollars this morning through western Union as we have been instructed to send you complete payment of $3.5 MUSD Via this western union urgent transfer method , we wish to let you know that this fund you are about to receive was approved by Government here in Benin, and it' s %100 secured and safe. Conclusively therefore, We have received a new directive to issue you fresh daily payments of $5,000 Below is the information of today payment, I have a good authority to email you the MTCN and sender's details to enable you pick up the first $5,000.00,USD and confirm receipt to us so as to enable us wire the next USD5,000.00 USD by tomorrow since we can only send USD5,000.00 USD a day.

I have already sent you first $5000.00 to your address this morning

Money Transfer Control Number MTCN/ 542-443-2955

Senders/ Richard Dimit

Test Question/ GOOD ?

Answer/ GOOD.

I will send you another $5000.00 first thing tomorrow morning as i will keep sending you only $5,000 every day until i send the complete funds to you which is $3.500.000 in your beneficiary name, Track Your payment online, https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderstatus.asp?country=global
Once again you can verify this on the Western Union Website www.westernunion.com.

The status is available to pick up but has not reflected in your western union data at your location. You will not be able to pick it up until you come down personally to obtain Clean Bill Record Certificate as requested by the Imf to prevent any stoppage of your daily payment.

However if you are not able to come down personally then you can just provide the subsidized sum of $65 to allow us obtain the Clean Bill Record Certificate so that you will be able to access and pick up this first $5,000 from any western union agency in your location.

Note that this Clean Bill Record Certificate $65 is not required by Western union or the Embassy but by IMF for verification and clearance to ensure this fund is clean.This is required to allow you a hitch free access to your daily payment of $5,000.

You are hereby required to send immediately through western union the sum of $65 to the details of the cashier to allow him get the Clean Bill Record Certificate

Use Below Information to make the payment:

Receiver Name:ELIAS AHOUEKE
Country: Benin Republic
City/address: Cotonou
Test Question: Honest
Test Answer: Trust
Amount: $65 usd

Send the Mtcn /RF# Number immediately you send the $65 for verification so that you can also automatically be able to access the already sent $5,000 and pick it up without any delay.

Your immediate response is expected.

I apologies for the inconveniences you have encountered at this length.You are to get back to me immediately you receive my email.
GOD BLESS YOU
Awaiting your urgent reply

Yours in service
MR. JOHN WEST
M.D WUMT. L.P , BENIN REP


A driver’s licence or current passport is required. In Quebec, a provincial health card issued in Quebec also may be used. Identification requirements may be different if the money is picked up.

The service is available online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each Western Union Agent location determines its own hours of operation, and most maintain extended hours, or even stay open around the clock. You can find an Agent location online that will be open when you want to use it. The Western Union Money Transfer Service is also available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year over the telephone. Simply call 1-800-265-0000 to speak with our Customer Service representatives.

Anti-fraud resources: