419 scam: "Vickie Moore"<test@unlabled.net> Last Notice

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "abuja" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Vickie Moore" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vickie_moore12@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2012 03:19:20 -0700
Subject: Last Notice

Last Notice,

This office received a note from the Ministry of Finance yesterday morning confirming that we must start sending your inheritance funds as soon as possible today or tomorrow. As you know, we must renew your name on the file payments. I went to IMF headquarter this morning to renew your name on the file payment, but the result are not what I wanted, the IMF charge you $87 to renew your name on the file payments.

We have instruction from the Minister board to start sending your inheritance funds Nine Hundred Thousand United States Dollars as soon as you send the renewing fee. Be advice that the Minister of Finance board Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had a clear mandated this morning that the only fee you will have to pay is the $87 to renew your name on the file payments.

You will be receiving 3 different payments of $5,000 each day starting from the day you send the renew fee, until you receive the inheritance amount Nine Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. The Minister board provides this office with your full information where to transfer the funds, such as your full name, country, state, and your home address. There is no further requirement from you as soon as you pay the renewing fee.

Here is the information to send renew fee through western union.

Receiver's name: Nwafe Okitikpo
Address:........ Abuja Nigeria
Question:........Trust
Answer:.........Honest
Amount:..........$87
Sender's name.........
MTCN:.................

I will visit the IMF office as soon as you send the $87 to renew your name on the file payment. We shall send you an email with the MTCN you need to pick up the first $5,000 and the second the payment will follow immediately; you will be to pick up the third payment of $5,000 after 2hours you picked up the both first and the second payment.

Sincerely,
Dr. Vickie Moore.
Western union payment office.

Anti-fraud resources:

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