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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: "Micheal Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mich.williams010@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:43:57 -0700
Subject: Secret Shopper

RC: 2004/628/CM.
Ref: MYTH-200657778
 
You have been selected by our HR Manager as one of our possible candidate
suitable for employment.
 
Duties:- We want you to run a survey on two prominent companies in your area.
 
1st: Money Gram Location:
2nd: Western union Location
 
*There has been reports about laps in the services of their Management and some
of their staffs,
*These complains were based on reports which their customers forwarded
anonymously and phone calls which were also made to the head Office.
 
About Us:
Sights on Service was founded in 1990 and has extensive experience in all phases
of mystery shopping . Over 250,000 shoppers are registered in our exclusive
shopper database, providing coverage throughout the United States.The company is
a charter member of the Mystery Shopping Provider's Association, the industry
association dedicated to quality standards in mystery shopping. Secret Shopper
is the registered trademark for mystery shopping services provided by Sights on
Service, Inc.
 
 
The Money Gram location was reported for evaluation for the following reasons:
* Customers have reported their money missing
* Slow services
* Unbalanced transfer charges
Second company was reported to be rendering
*Poor services
*Rudeness to customers
*Excess charges
*Late opening time and Closing before time.
 
Your Secret Evaluation would be:
* To make a transfer of fund from this Money Gram location or western union
location to our Mystery shopper, and the funds would be picked up by another
mystery shopper at the exact location Which a customer reported her funds
missing.
* You would have to record the time at which you go to the location and how many
minutes it took you to get service.
* The check for the sum of $5000.00, As soon as you receive the check , You will
have to deposit the check at your bank and deduct your $500 and use the rest of
the money for the services
 
*** First Offer of Mystery Shopper ***
Pay-check of $5000 on your name & you will be the one that will be cashing any
pay-check iss
ued on your name & you will deduct 10% of the first offer & the
rest will be transfer to our Accounting Department by MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN
UNION TRANSFER .
 
* Upon receiving the funds, the locations address would be forwarded to you, and
also the Name and address of whom the Mystery shoppers transfer would be made
to. You would have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry
out.
* You would also provide me with the name of the cashier that attended to you.
Kindly send us your details below to mich.williams010@gmail.com via email
in order to have
payment issued to you as soon as possible the payment will be in form of a
CERTIFIED CHECK or MONEY ORDER and it will be delivered to you before the week
runs out via UPS Next day Courier service.
 
Thank You.
 
Mr Micheal Williams.
 
Happy People Working Department/Evaluation Manager
 
================================
FULL NAME --
FULL RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS --
CITY --
STATE --
ZIP CODE --
COUNTRY --
PHONE NUMBER --
GENDER --
MARITAL STATUS --
AGE --
NATIONALITY --
OCCUPATION --
 
Kindly send us your details above to mich.williams010@gmail.com

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