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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: "Western Union Money Transfer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paywumt@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:16:58 +0100
Subject: Your Western Union Transfer Information

Attention: Beneficiary.

we write to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 USD dollars (Five Thousand US Dollars) through Western Union Money Transfer as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment of $2,500,000.00 USD (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) through Western Union Money Transfer by the European Union Compensation Scheme.

We shall be sending $5000.00 USD dollars (Five Thousand US Dollars) per day for you to pick up from the nearest Western Union Money Transfer office in your location.

IMPORTANT NOTE: TO START RECEIVING $5000 USD DOLLARS DAILY, A EUROPEAN UNION (EU) BENEFICIARY REMITTANCE FILE MOST BE OPENED FOR YOU.

Contact Mr John Maxwell for the receiver's information the (MTCN Number and Sanders’s Name and Address) for you to pick up the first $5000.00 USD dollars (Five Thousand US Dollars) contact Mr John Maxwell with the below information:

Name: John Maxwell
email: paywumt@hotmail.co.uk

Regards,
Lisa Tailor.
©2001-2012 Western Union Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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