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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: "Mrs.Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <okonjoiwela@w.cn>
Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:10:01 -0700
Subject: Your western union MTCN details

Dear Beneficiary How are you today?I write to inform you that we have already sent you USD5000.00 Dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of $3.5Million USD,via western union by this government
 
I was calling your telephone number to give you the information through phone but you did not pick up my calls through out that yesterday even this morning.Now,I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you will pick up the USD5000.00 to enable us send another USD5000.00 today as you know we will be sending you only USD5000.00 per day.
 
Please pick up this information and run to western union to pick up the USD5000.00 and call me directly for confirmation, i have been authorized by the world bank to monitor and make this payment i am in charge of your payment so that we can send you another payment today.Call me once you picked up the USD5000.00 today.
 
Here is the western union information to pick up the USD5000.00;
 
Sender First Name: Diana  Yockey
MTCN:953-013-5742
Question:one
Answer:love
Amount: $5000
 
I am waiting for your call once you pick up this USD5000.00,Please email me your direct telephone number because I need to be calling you once we send any payment for the information.
 
Thank,
 
Mrs.Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Direct Email:okonjoiwela@w.cn
Phone:+2347081507079
Minister of Finance
Federal Ministry of Finance,
Nigeria.
WARNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU HAVE TO PICK UP THE WESTERN UNION BEFORE 24 HOURS FROM NOW THE TRANSACTION WILL BE CANCELLED, PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY. ONCE YOU RECEIVE THIS MASSAGE.

Anti-fraud resources: