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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: Western Union Head Office <offeoll4@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Western Union Head Office <w_uni1@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 19:10:53 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: WESTERN UNION FORMAT FROM NWA EZE


Dear Customer,
Thank you for your patronage and for using Western Union Money Transfer to send money, we are so happy to have a Customer like you. For using Western Union, your details were put to the Ballot box for the ongoing 2014 Western Union Money Transfer End of the Year Bonanza Draw, otherwise Promo. You have won your self $US800,000.00 Dollars, This fund will be given to you through our office Western Union Payment Department Office, Akpakpa Dodome Cotonou Benin republic, Your winnings sum will be paid installment with sums of US$4,500.00 dollars which will be sent to you in every Seven Hours (7hours) until the funds is completely paid to you, we program it in this way so we can be able to conclude the transfer before going for Xmas vacation, once again this is as a result that $4,500 is the maximum limit our Western Union payment Department can send per transaction, we are legally allowed to pay you this sum until you receive your winnings fund worth of US$800,000.00 United States dollars.
The Following is the Western Union Money Control Number for your First payment of $4,500 dollars 
Sender’s first name: JOSEPHSender’s Last Name: MOTIGWEMTCN Number: 3125850066
Note that the above has not been activated for you to pick up the funds because your Name has not yet been activated to pick up the funds until you fulfill the necessary obligation, otherwise to enable us activate your payment immediately you would be required to pay a small activation charge of US$40 dollars, Listen be informed that this charge can not be deducted from your account because it’s bonded and has been programmed till your final payment. This would be paid once and will not be requested to pay it after your transaction has been activated
Moreover you can send the activated fee of US$40 dollars to our Western Union payment agent below as soon as it's done. Upon the receipt of the US$40, dollars your programmed transaction will be activated and you would enable you start receiving your winnings funds in US$4,500 installments.
The Receivers Information For The US$40 dollars is as follows:
Receivers Name:...................Ude EbukaAddress:.....2343 central, Akpakpa Dodome Cotonou Benin republicText Question:................................ UrgentAnswer: ........................... NeededAmount to be sent: US$40 DollarsMTCN:..........................................Senders Name:...........................Senders Address:.......................
Immediately she receives the payment, our Western Union payment Department shall activate your programmed transaction to enable you receive your first installment payment of $5,500 immediately. Please Note: this control number (3125850067) should be kept very safe and secret for your own security, to avoid someone else tempering with you funds.
Due kindly call for more Details and directives on our office phone line below +229-98-900-940.
We congratulate you in Advance.Winnings Claims Bonanza DepartmentWestern Union Money Transfer Office

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