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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 =?utf-8?b?VW5pb27Crg==?= <w_union0990@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2018 05:19:46 -0700
Subject: Urgent Response


Dear Customer

The management of western union money transfer, wishes you best in
life, the western union have added effort to transfer your funds which
was deposited with us by international monetary fund head due to your
e-mail address was found on scam victim list.

The $1.500,000 USD stands as compensation to you, we have build better
service in beginning of this year in order to give you best of our
service. After we received your information, we instantly transfer the
first payment of $5,000 in your name.Now your payment has been sent
out like I said before but there is one thing holding your payment
right now which we must handle immediately to enable you pick up your
payment today as well.

The first $5,000 we sent out needs clearance certificate before you
will start receiving it. The payments is there right now but the
certificate registered is highly needed because the western union
system will not find the payment if it is not clearance
certificate.They demanded $69.00 for the clearance certificate. Please
you must try to send it today okay. Information for the $5,000.00 that
was send though Western Union is here by given thus,

Sender's Name: Bill Fleming
Amount $5000.00
Test Question: When
Answer: Now
Your tracking number is: 118-499-2323


TO TRACK THE AVAILABILITY OF THE TRANSFER, TRACK YOUR FUND (
https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/self-service/app/tracktransfer )
NOTE THAT IF YOU TRACK THIS INFORMATION, YOU WILL SEE THAT IT IS
"AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP BY RECEIVER" BUT YOU CAN NOT PICK IT UP UNTIL
THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE IS OBTAINED.

Please you must try to send it today okay. Here is the information:

RECEIVER NAME; HENRY UBA
COUNTRY;...BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY.......COTONOU
TEST QUESTION; WHO IS ABLE
ANSWER; GOD
AMOUNT; $69

I will be waiting for your update as soon as possible.

Best Regards,
Mr.Mike John
Email; (w_union0990@outlook.com)
Phone: +229-98183029
Western Union® Money Transfer,
Head Office Benin Republic.
Western Union®

Anti-fraud resources: