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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" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wuclaimsoff122@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 9 May 2017 19:19:56 +0300
Subject: Your Pick Up Details ..!

 
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
Corporate Contact Information
Corporate Headquarters
12500 E. Bel-ford Avenue
Greenwood, CO 80112, USA
+1 213 550 5281
 
Good Day Beneficiary:
 
I write to inform you that we have been given the mandate to transfer your funds for the Quota year Compensation amount of $600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Dollars) via western Union by this government to you.
 
We tried to give you the Western Union Instructions through phone, but we could not locate your numbers in our database to reach you last week even as at this morning, So I decided to email you the MTCN and Sender Names so that you can pick up the $5,000.00 to enable us send another $5,000.00 bytomorrowas you knows we will be sending you only $5,000.00 per day. In this process we shall be sending the complete amount in $600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Dollars)in 120 Days, because we can only send out $5,000.00 per day.
 
Please pick up this information and run to any western union in your country to pick up the $5,000.00 and get back to us to enable us send you the details of the next wire of the $5,000.00.
 
Once you have picked up the first wire, kindly contact this Officer in charge for the next wire, In order to proceed on this process, bellow are the details of the of your first pick up, Here is the western union pick up information of the $5,000.00 USD.
 
PICK UP INFORMATION BELLOW:
 
MTCN : 633-670-6150
Sender's Name: LOPEZ CARLOS
Question: Honest
Answer: Trust
Amount: $5,000.00
Country: USA
 
Your swift response is awaited with regards to this notification, you can call me on phone bellow
 
Thanks!
Mr. Alfred Marshall.
Wu Online Coordinator.
+1 213 550 5281
USA.Money Transfer
wuoffclaims3@163.com

Anti-fraud resources: