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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: STEVEN JONES <steven.j05@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <jonessteven34@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:36:10 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT INFORMATIONS,




Send Money Worldwide


Dear Sir/Madam,

There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $750,000.00 USD directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03, at the owner of this email address.

The International Monetary Fund contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.
They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a name. We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address,so we require some more information in order to verify it with what we have on file from the IMF.

FULL NAME:FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:OCCUPATION:MARITAL STATUS:
AGE:


In order to resolve this problem,get back to us immediately.

As soon as this information is received,and you have complied with the requirements of payment of the western union charges, payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from The Western Union Transfering Bank. When emailing,please use reference number 250-147 for our mutual convenience.
THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER,OFFICE NIGERIA BRANCH.

Sincerely,
Mr Steven Jones.Western Union Payments
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam