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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 Jimmy Peters <mrnelsoncollins@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mr Jimmy Peters <westernunionmoney75@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2015 03:42:53 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR WESTERN UNION CONTROL NUMBER: 0047756578



Congratulations to  E-mail Owner, 
 
Thank you for your patronage and for using western Union Money Transfer to send and receive money, we are so happy to have a customer like you.your email was put to our Ballot box for the ongoing Western Union Money Transfer Bonanza Draw for the Celebration of Western Union 164th anniversary. You have won your self the sum of $USD1,000,000.00,One Million United States Dollars, This fund will be given to you through our office Western Union Payment Department Office.
 
Your winnings sum will be paid installment with sum of US$5,000.00 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 $5,000 is the maximum limit our Western Union payment Department can send per transaction, we are legally allowed to pay you till you receive your winning funds worth of US$1,000,000.00
 
The Following is the Western Union Money Control Number for your First payment of $5,000: 0047756578
 
Sender's first name: HINATEA
Sender's Last Name: KELLY
MTCN Number: 0047756578
 
Note that the above mtcn control number has not been activated online 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 an activation charge of US$65. Please 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 again after your transaction has been activated
a
I will Send you payment information of our Western Union payment cashier as soon as I hear from you with your receiver details and cellphone number. Upon the receipt of the $65 for the activation of your transfer, your programmed transaction will be activated and you will receive your first transaction of US$5,000 immediately.
 
The Receivers Information Needed from you is bellow only for the owner of this e-mail I`d:
 
Receivers Name:
Cellphone number:
Address:
Country:
Text Question:
Answer:
 
Immediately we receives the payment, our Western Union payment Department shall activate your programmed transaction to enable you receive your first installment payment immediately. Please Note: this control number (0047756578) should be kept very safe and secret for your own security, to avoid someone else tempering with your funds.
 
We congratulate you once again.
 
Winnings Claims Bonanza Department
Western Union Money Transfer Office
Mr Jimmy Peters

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