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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348035305803 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "western union" <wu409748@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: wutransfer@live.com
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 13:48:42 -0700
Subject: THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER


Western UnionÂÂÂ(R)
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide

There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION
MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $300.000.00
USD directed as in coded credited to file
KTU/9023118308, 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.

In order to resolve this problem, please
email via Western Union Solicitors Fund
Verification Department: (wutransfer1@live.com)
As soon as this information is received, and you
have complied with the requirements of
payment of the western union charges 0.0010%
(PERCENT)only. For retrieving/reactivation code
fee payment will be made to your nominated
bank account or at the counter directly from The
Western Union Transferring Bank.

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 complete this transfer.

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


Management of Western Union Money Transfer
United Kingdom Head Office and our Motto is To
Serve You Better.
Below is the information to send the 0.0010%
(PERCENT) today through Western Union money
transfer to make it faster and easier.

RECEIVER NAME: BRIGHT OPARA
RECEIVER ADDRESS; LAGOS NIGERIA
TEST QUESTION; COLOR
ANSWER; BLUE
AMOUNT; 0.0010% (PERCENT)
MTCN NUMBER....

Endeavour to send the MTCN number to me
immediately you send the money and make
sure that you send with this information to avoid
mistake ok.


THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER, UNITED KINGDOM HEAD OFFICE.
DISPATCHED THIS DAY.

Sincerely,
MR JAMES MARK
+234-8035305803.
+234-1-7641264..


Western UnionÂÂÂ(R) Welcome to Western Union
Phone: +234-1-7641264.Send Money Worldwide

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam