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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 MONEY TRANSFER <meso215meso@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER <westernoffice@qip.ru>
Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2015 08:40:34 +0900 (JST)
Subject: DEAR CUSTOMER CONTACT US FOR YOUR WINNING FUNDS?



Contact our W.U Office for your payment Mrs. Caria Blessed
 
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
February 23rd 2015 Western Union Money Transfer beginning of the Year
Bonanza Draw down here in Island of Port-Novo Benin. You have won
yourself $US1.5 million United State Dollars, Note this fund will be
given to you through our office Western Union Payment Department Office, Cotonou Benin Republic.
 
Your winnings sum will be paid
installment with sums of US$5,500.00 which will be sent to you in every
Seven Hours (7hours) Until the funds is completely paid to you, this is
as a result that $5,500 is the maximum limit our Western Union payment
Department
can send per transaction, we are legally allowed to pay you till you
receive your winnings fund worth of $US1, 600 million United State
Dollars completely.
 
The Following is the Western Union Money
Control Number for your First payment of $5,500: (3125850067) we advise
you to track this information through WU Track
 
Sender’s first name: JOSEPH
Sender’s Last Name: MOTIGWE
MTCN Number: 3125850067
 
Note
that the above has not been activated for you to pick up because your
name has not been activated to it. To enable us activate your payment
immediately you would be required to pay a small activation charge of
US$92. Please be informed that this charge cannot 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
 
Send the US$92 payment information to our Western Union payment agent below as soon as it's done. Upon the receipt of the
US$140,
your programmed transaction will be activated and it will enable you
start receiving your winnings in US$5,500 Installments.
 
The Receivers Information For The US$92 is as follows:
 
Receivers Name::::: Steve Anag
Country Address::::: Benin Republic
City:::::::::::::: Cotonou
Text Question::::: Now
Answer:::::Yes
Amount to be sent::::: US$92
MTCN:::::
Senders Name:::::
Senders Address:::::
 
Immediately
he 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 and after 7hours we shall
continue sending you the rest of your payment. 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
 
We congratulate you in Advance.
 
Winnings Claims Bonanza Department
Western Union Money Transfer Office

© 2015 Western Union Inc. All rights reserved. Western Union is located at 20221 along Pegadis Road Benin Republic, Cotonou

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