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.
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. )
- "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. )
- "service 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. )
- "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>
Reply-To: info-westernuniongoldcard01@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2012 12:41:53 +0100
Subject: Do we pay Mrs. George Wady?We provide a 100% guarantee receipt of
your transfer because we have perfectly carried out the process

Attention Please ,

Please note that we provide a 100% guarantee receipt of your transfer
because we have perfectly carried out the process. Please note that
Mr. George Wady came to our office this morning again and bring this
picture attchement that i send to you that you are dead that the
picture is your burial ceremony picture that they are here with the
$31 that you told them about this fund, Please let us know if this is
turth. We are only happy if you are happy in same case we know how
much it means to you and understand the problem you have encounter in
the whole process. Please note that we are going on holidays today by
4pm been 24th of Dec, 2012. so you have to send the fee this morning,
so that you will receive your card and start useing it today. Please
comply now for final endosement.

There is no additional cost, the only fee we are charging you is $31
prior to delivery, we will be able to deliver your transfer as soon as
the service fee is paid and it will arrive faster. Once again we are
so sure of you receiving your transfer to your designated without any
further delay, extra fee or any. Send the fee by western union or
money gram with the below information:

RECEIVER NAME... Ogechukwu Omokwe
COUNTRY... BENIN.
CITY... COTONOU .Add : NO 11 Missebo mtk Cotonou -Benin.
TEXT QUESTION... what colure TEXT ANSWER... Yellow
Amount $31
And let us know my conformation the MTCN ?

Thank you as I wait your respond.
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