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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: "Anthony Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western.union.offic@af.tc>
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:43:25 +0200
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION NOW FOR YOUR PAYMENT US$1.200,000.OO.

Dear Friend,

Now I have arranged your payment of ($1.2 Million usd) to be sent to you through Western Union Money Transfer Payment: The amount you will receive per day is $5,000, The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send you the currently standards track details you need to pick up your ($5,000) payment by Western Union, you will receive every day till you receive the $1.2 Million United State Dollars.

Now contact them with this information below they will send your fund to you. Barr. Godwin Lien, Western Union department Financial Bank Benin, Tele: +22997345082.E-mail :(western.union.offic@af.tc) Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to process your payment, so reconfirm your
information to them now:

Receiver name---------
Your full address------
Tel-----------
Test question---------
Answer----------
Copy of your id--------

Regards,
Mr. Anthony Brown.

Anti-fraud resources: