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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 MONE TRANSFER USA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wuofficeunion22@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2016 18:37:25 +0100
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER USA

Attention,

After proper investigations and research at Western Union and Money Gram Office, we found your name in the database amongst those that have sent money and this proves that you have truly been swindled by those unscrupulous people's by sending money to them through Western Union/Money Gram in the course of getting one fund or the other that is
not real, right now we are working hand in hand with Western Union to track every fraudsters down, do not respond to their e-mails, letters and phone calls any longer as they are scammers or hackers and you should be very careful to avoid being a victim to fraudsters any longer because they have nothing to offer you but to rip-off what you have worked earnestly hard to earn.

In this regard a meeting was held between the Board of Directors of The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also with The Economic Community Of West African
States (ECOWAS) as a consequence of our investigations it was agreed that the sum of hundred and twenty thousand US Dollars (USD120,000.00) should be transferred to you out of the funds that THE TREASURER OF THE UNITED STATES has set aside as a compensation to everyone who have by one way or the other sent money to fraudsters anywhere in the world.

***Please note that we will no longer be liable for any loss, cost or expense whatsoever,suffered or incurred by You if you are still in connection with the fraudsters. Be warned!

We have deposited your fund at Western Union Money Transfer agent location USPS Post office Culver City, California,USA. We have submitted your details to them so that your fund can be
transferred to you. we have also insured your fund to your name to avoid
misappropriation of funds.

Contact the Western Union agent office through the email address below;

Contact Person: Robert Thompson

Contact Email : wester_payin@safe-mail.net

Location: Culver City, California, USA


Yours sincerely,

Alfred Riwanne,

Investigation Officer.

THE ECOWAS COMMISSION

****************************************************************************************************************************************************
Please note that e-mails, letters and phone calls are currently been made to
unsuspecting persons by fraudsters claiming to have access to their funds. Everyday, people throughout the world are falling victim to scams of one way or the other. It could be an unexpected prize draw or lottery win, or a chance to invest in an exciting new money-making or investment programme. In the circumstance, we unreservedly advice you to dissociate yourself from all correspondence and transactions entered into based on evidently fraudulent and fictitious claims.

Anti-fraud resources: