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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union Inc." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mary.lee.ming@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 23:05:24 -0700
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER® ENQUIRY.

Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide 
Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
 
Dear Sir/Madam,
 
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $1,500,000.00 USD  directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03, at the owner of this email address. The UNITED NATIONS/INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code. 
 
They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a name for security reasons. We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, so we require some more information in order to complete this transfer.  
 
 
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
FAX NUMBER: OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:  
 
 
In order to resolve this problem, please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund Verification Department:  
 
 
Contact Name: Mary Lee Ming
Email: mary.lee.ming@outlook.com
Phone/Fax: +1-605-644-5166
 
On this faithful recommendations, we want you to know that during the last U.N./IMF meetings held this week, it was alarming so much in the meetings on the lost of funds by various individuals to the scams artists operating in syndicates all over the world today. In other to compensate victims, the U.N / IMF Body in conjunction with the WESTERN UNION INC. is now paying 150 victims of this operators $1,500,000.00 each in accordance with the U.N./IMF recommendations.
 
PLEASE NOTE: According to Western Union policy, we can only pay you US$10,000 daily from the issued MTCN until your $1,500,000 are completed.   THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER INTERNATIONAL
 
 
Sincerely,  
Mary Lee Ming
Western Union Payments
 
 
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Please note that e-mails, letters and phone calls are currently being made to unsuspecting persons by fraudsters claiming to have access to their funds. Every day, people throughout the world are falling victim to scams of one kind or another. It could be an unexpected prize draw or lottery win, or a chance to invest in an exciting new money-making or investment programme . But remember – if it sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam.In the circumstance, we unreservedly advice you to dissociate yourself from all correspondence and transactions entered into based on evidently fraudulent and fictitious claims.
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