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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 MIKE UBA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mikeuba401@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2022 03:54:27 +0100
Subject: Attention: Customer

FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
ADDRESS/120 Isolo Way Ejigbo Street
Lagos Nigerias.
westernunontransfer-payment@accountant.com
 
 
Attention: Customer
 
 
WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO SEND YOUR FUND TO YOUR ADDRESS IN  YOUR CITY FROM THE FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT HERE IN UNITED STATES.YOU WILL BE RECEIVING YOUR FUND ($2,500 U.S.D )MTCN7839715678 PER DAY AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE TOTAL SUM OF U$50,000.00 US DOLLARS.
 
 
We have made the best inquiry and found out that your first payment (MTCN#7839715678, amount sent: USD$2,500) was pressed on-hold by the IRS authority for Legality of Funds Certificate. And we have verified this certificate to cost you the sum of $125 us dollars only.
 
 
Kindly view the website :  https://www.westernunion.com/web/global-service/track-transfer
MTCN: 7839715678
 
 
You will receive your $2,500.00 as soon as you send the $125. We shall secure the certificate and forward to IRS for urgent release of your $2,500.00 for pick up.
 
 
Send the $125 as follows by the preferred gifts cards.
 
 
We preferred gifts cards because the fee is too small so Choose your preferred gifts card below and purchase
iTunes Gift Card
Google Play Card
 
 
We await your urgent response for immediate claims of your first installment of $2,500 U.S.D okay.
 
 
Coordinator MR MIKE UBA
Western Union Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources: