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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: "WESTERN UNION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unionbank.africa09@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:33:23 +0800
Subject: GO PICKUP YOUR PAYMENT RIGHT NOW!!! Cell - +234-018-292-833

Dear Friend

I am writing in respect of your Compensated International Certified Bank Draft/Check
in our custody, I write to inform you that since we have been waiting for the payment of your delivery charges as instructed on our last email to you, and did not hear from you, to avoid expiry of your Bank Draft/Check in our custody here, We have made arrangement here alternatively to transfer your fund Install mentally through Western Union Money Transfer today at 12:11pm which has been programmed to be transferred under installment at rate of $4,000 daily as Western Union policy here does not allow transferring funds above $4,000 at once from this country to another, but will be sending under installment of $4,000 daily till the amount is completed Paid In other words. We have today transferred your first installment payment available for your pickup at any western union office nearest to you, but still on hold due to the unpaid endorsement & daily activation file fee amount of $150 you supposed to pay before you go start picking up your installment payment.

You are to Track your payment with this Payment information below:

www.westernunion.com

Senders First Name; Nancy
Senders Last Name; Ellis
YOUR MTCN; 966-225-3240
Amount:$4,000 Daily

You can also track by your mobile just dialing 1~800~325~6000

The endorsement & daily activation file fee of $150 should be sent to our office here in Africa with the information below.. through western union nearest to you.

Receive by: Esay Wilson
City & Country: Lagos, Nigeria
Amount: $150
Text Question: Faith
Answer: In God.

As soon as you send the fee, send us the transfer Mtcn to help us proceed with immediate transfer activation of your installment payment.

Notice: This preference is being given to you to maintain good customer relationship and to make you fully convinced that you are dealing with a registered Compensation and Finance firm here.

Note: the Activation Fees could not be deducted from the Bank Draft fund here as we have no access to the fund due to the Fact that it was placed in a Bank Draft/Check and not cash at hand.

Notice: you are not authorized to go to the Western Union Money Transfer office for pickup of the installment amount that was transfer as it is placed pending for activation as soon as the daily endorsement file fee is paid.

Please submit your Activation charges with the name of our cashier as given to you and get back to this office with details of your payment for further actions here.

I can be reached Via Email: unionbank.africa09@gmail.com or Tel: +234-018-292-833. Please feel much free to contact me for further clearance.

Thanking you for your Anticipated Co-operations.

Respectfully Yours.

Mr. Felix Douglas
+234-018-292-833

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