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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: "Mrs Solarge" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western4union@w.cn>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:45:30 -0700
Subject: Your Compensation payment have Already Sent Via Western Union To You Today.

Attention.

To The Owner Of This E-mail, How are you today, I write to inform you that we have already sent you USD5000.00 dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of USD1.5 Million via western union by this government.

I was calling your telephone number to give you the information through phone but your phone did not connected throughout that yesterday. unfortunately, I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you will pick up this USD5000.00 to enable us send another USD5000.00 today as you know we will be sending you only USD5000.00 per day. Please pick up this information and run to western union to pick up the USD5000.00 and call me back to send you another payment today,

WESTERN UNION OFFICE
RUE 256 MADUJA DOROKPO BP 0005 COTONOU
CONTACT PERSON: MR.PHILIP HILL
TELE:+229-98451791
EMAIL: ( western4union@w.cn )/call or email me once you picked up this USD5000.00 today. Here is the western union information to pick up the Money.

MTCN NUMBERS: 3232314272
SENDER, S NAME: Samuel Chukwuma
Test Question-------What color?
Test Answer---White
Amount----------$5000, 00 USD

I am waiting for your call once you pick up this USD5000.00, Please mail them your direct telephone number because they need to be calling you once we send any payment for the information.

Thanks
Mrs. Solarge

Anti-fraud resources: