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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 Pay Office <online840926@telkomsa.net>
Reply-To:
Western Union Money Transfer Pay Office <western.unionpickup2010@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 10:30:23 +0200 (SAST)
Subject: Pick up the $5,000.00USD

How are you today?

I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5,000.00USD
through Western Union as we have been given the mandate to transfer
your full compensation payment of $480,000.00USD via Western Union
Money Transfer by the United Nations (ECOWAS). This is because United
Nations and (ECOWAS) are supporting individuals due to the worldwide
economy meltdown.
I would have requested for your phone number to give you the
information through phone but internet hackers were many. So i decided
to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you can pick up this
$5,000.00USD to enable us send another $5,000.00USD by tomorrow as
you know that we will be sending you only $5,000.00USD per day. The
fund was send in the name which you use in opening your e-mail address.
Please pick up this information and rush to any western union to pick up
the $5,000.00USD and send us an email back to enable us send you
another payment by tomorrow.

Email me once you picked up this $5,000.00USD today.
Here is the western union information to pick up the $5,000.00USD,

MTCN : 567 345 4156
Sender's Name: Mark Winters
Question: Honest
Answer:Trust
Amount:5000.00USD
Country:United Kingdom

I am waiting for your email once you pick up the $5,000.00USD,

Thanks

DAvid Porter
Regional Coordinator
+2348033552097

Anti-fraud resources: