419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "required fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cotonou" (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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Western Union Pay-out Gold card
<info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:16:35 +0400
Subject: Gold Card Number is: 414665030417879.

Dear Sir,

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your email thank you and the money
that you sent, We understand that you have feel cheated so many times
to receive your over due wining/inheritance fund ,and today Western Union
have decided to repayment you with $100,000.00 for your lost money .it
is our pleasure to notify you that we have already concluded every
necessary documentation and your payment is keyed and you will received
the ATM GOLD CARD to enable you Activate and setup your personal PIN to
be able to receive money as soon as you send the required fee . Please
you
have to understand that as soon as you can send this money today been
07/06/2011, we will give you the pin numbers and your gold card will be at
your door step by today. Please Visit the https://wugoldcard.
mycardplace.com/cholder/
Your Card Number is: 4146650304178790 use it in the 1st time Signing in
and clicks proceed to verify the transfer .In addition to the initial
activation you will receive your PIN and your Western Union Gold Card
when
the following fee are paid by today been 07/06/2011. Please filling the
western union gold card application i attach to you and send it back
together with the fee, so that we can send the card to you today without
any further delay again. and please note that your pin number is 25489,
but
you can not use it now till you send us the fee of $42 today for the
activation of the pin numbers.

We shall send your WESTERN UNION ATM GOLD CARD as soon as you send the
required totalling (USD$42) which is the only fees needed from you to
complete your transfer to empower the immediate release of your WESTERN
UNION ATM GOLD CARD and all the necessary information .Payment should be
made via Western Union Money transfer or Money Gram to the Name below
according to the policy and the payment arrangements:

1. RECEIVER NAME... OGECHUKWU OMOKWE
2. COUNTRY... BENIN.
3. CITY... COTONOU .Add : NO 11 Missebo mtk cotonou -Benin.
5. TEXT QUESTION... what colure TEXT ANSWER... white
7 .Amount â€¦$42
Forward the MTCN NUMBER xxx xxx xxx x. Senders name and your postal
address.

We assure you that your WESTERN UNION ATM GOLD CARD AND ALL THE NEEDED
INFORMATION will reach you immediately we receive the complete requirement
needed from you.

THIS IS A NEW ARRANGEMENT AND THE TOTAL MONEY IS BEEN KEYED IN IT

Yours in Service,
Mr. Ganesh Amoorthy.
Contact us at: info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com
Western Union BENIN - COTONOU .

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam