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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 John Williams <mhi182@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Mr John Williams <western88888435uniom@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 18:45:21 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Friend,


 Dear Friend, 
I want to thank you for helping me out in that last transaction which went successful, However, I am now in Australia where I am now investing my own share of the fund, Please I am giving this token as I promised to compensate you after everything, please accept this Two Million five hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($4.5M) as a token from my heart. Prior to this, I have told my personal secretary to transfer the US$4.5M to you through Western Union Money transfer as soon you contact her with your information to avoid wrong transfer, meanwhile the below is the first US$5000.00 payment information available for pickup . Here is the western union information to pick up the US$5000.00;  
1. SENDER FIRST NAME_____SAHRIR 2. SENDER SECOND NAME____SAAD 3. TEST QUESTION_________VERY 4. TEST ANSWER___________URGENT 5. AMOUNT________________$5,000 USD 6. MTCN__________________916-765-3711 (Available for pick up by receiver) Track it now on https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=BJ I told her to keep sending you $5000.00 daily until the payment of $4,500.000.00 is completed. Do not forget to furnish her with the below data; 
1. Names............... 2. Current cell phone No........... 3. Home Address............ 4. Your Country:....................... 5. Your Current Age ........... 6 Occupation:........... Please,contact Mrs Helen Omambala if there is any problem with the MTCN and below email ddress (western88888435uniom@yahoo.fr) or reach Her on phone call.+229 6984 546 24. Please contact her now, so that she will send you another one today if You have a problem with the MTCN or the sender Name try to reach her on call or email her so that she will correct it for you. 
Thank you very much, Mr John Williams National Assemnly, Benin, Republic. Goodnews

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