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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: "Mr Mark Jones" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jonesmarkmark16@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2017 22:18:58 +0530
Subject: Western Union payment

Dear Sir/Madam,
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $1,500,000.00 directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/16, at the owner of this email address. The International Monetary Fund in collaboration with United Nation contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code. They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a name. We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address so we required some more information in order to complete this transfer.
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:
In order to resolve this problem please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund Verification Department.
As soon as this information is received and you comply with the requirements of western union money transfer charges, payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter Western Union money transfer outlet in your country. When emailing, please use reference number 250-147 for our mutual convenience.
THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
Sincerely,
Mr Mark Jones.

Anti-fraud resources: