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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: Western Union <wumt10170@yahoo.pt>
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2014 17:53:18 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: REPLY


Attn Sir/Madam,
Reference to the IMF general consensus meeting held today with the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) regarding the outstanding debts and pending payments in Republic of Benin in-which your file were deliberated upon. ECOWAS approved immediate payment of $1,500,000.00 USD to be transfer to you and they shifted your File to our office for payment and we required your information to enable us program your data in our Transfer System for installment daily payments to you.
Therefore, re-confirm below information as soon as possible:
1, Your full name...........................(As Receiver)2, Valid home/office Address..........................3, Your Mobile/Cellphone Number.....................................4, Your Age.......................................5, Your present occupation...........................6, A scan copy of your Driver's License or International Passport.
Upon the receipt of above mentioned information, we shall programmed your information and transfer the first payment.
Reply us through below e-mail.

With Regards, Mr Michael A. SebastianWESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFERTel: +22968691815E-mail: wumttransfert@hotmail.com            PLACE TABERA           COTONOU, BORGOU  01BP1280             BENIN REPUBLIC



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