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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: "Mr. Terre Cool" <ffcfile953@gmail.com>
Reply-To: www.western.unionb01@w.cn
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:57:58 -0500
Subject: PICK UP YOUR $5000 USD IMMEDIATELY.

Attention,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 yourfull
compensation payment total sum of $1.2Million USD,via western union by this
governemnt.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 $5000 USD to enable us send you another $5000USD today as you know we will
be sending you only $5000USD per day.Please pick up this information and run
to western union to pick up the $5000USD and call Director of Opration Manager
Mr Ben Good because he is the person incharge for your payment so that he can
send you another payment today,phoneline+229-9893-
1356,Emai(www.western.unionb01@w.cn)call or email Him once you picked up the
USD5000.00 today.

Here is the western union information to pick up the USD5000.00;Sender First
Name:Ramona Brown MTCN:457 746 2712 Question:Who madeyou?Answer:God Amount:
$5000 I am waiting for your call once you pick up this USD5000.00,Please to
avoid wrong payment reconfirm your address below;

Your Full Name..............
Your Address................
Your Country................
Your corrent Telepone number................because I need to be calling you
once we send any payment for the informations.
Thank,Barrister.TERRE COOL..

Anti-fraud resources: