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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447937449825
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.
- wumremittransfer@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR.ROBERT WAYNE" <dr.douglas_morrison@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "DR.ROBERT WAYNE" <wumremittransfer@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2015 07:26:25 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER. LONDON, UNITED
KINGDOM.

Â FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.
*******************
STORE DETAILS
9, Grove Village Parade, 178 Stockport Rd,
Manchester M13 9AB, United Kingdom
Email: wumremittransfer@gmail.com
Tel Phone: Tel+447937449825

Kind Attn Dear, This's Your Reword For Been Honest

I tried calling your number but due to my weather condition here, my efforts proved abortive, kindly go through this email carefully and make sure you understand the content before replying to it. We are instructed by the Federal Ministry of Finance united kingdom to transfer your winning prize to you via our service (WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER) so you will be receiving $5000,00USD,equivalent to Indian local currency is{300,482.INR} every day until your total winning prize of{THREE CRORE,NINETY NINE LAKHS INDIAN RUPEES} is totally confirmed transferred to you.

Note: {I.M.F}previous attempt to remit your winning prizes to you was proved abortive due to some unreliable/none merited official that was previously earlier working at the foreign Remittance Based, though nemesis has already cached up on them as they have been arrested and put to jail, currently all the process of the transfer of your fund is proceeding successfully

It was announced officially yesterday from the IMF Minister Ms. Christine Largarde who announced to the general public that she was in a meeting last week at new Delhi in India with Narendra Modi: The 15th Prime Minister of India and the (UNO) director, finally they reached to a conclusion, that every unpaid prizes including INHERITANCE FUND/COMPENSATION FUND/CONTRACT PAYMENT AND WINNING PRIZES, should be transferred to the beneficiary via our service(Western Union Money Transfer-London UK).

Agreement has been issued and signed with the international monetary fund organization that your winning prize will be transferred to you from this office, while the transfer process will commence as soon as we hear from you.

MOST IMPORTANT: You will only be required to pay the sum of RS-6,900,been the file renewal charges since your nonresident account with us has been dormant as it has not been service for a while.

PLEASE NOTE: That your money is deposited and protected by a Hardcover Insurance Policy, which made it impossible to make any deduction from your compensation fund before it will be transfer to you. This means that no charges can be deducted from your fund, this is in accordance with section *13* of the National remittance Act, as adopted in 1993 and mended on 3rd July 1996,by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.

Western union transfer is the fastest and convenient means on sending and receiving money overseas without delay, you can receive your money from any western union or money exchange store in your city with only your id proof.
Finally, to enable us proceed with the daily transfer of {300,482.INR} please kindly fill up the details required from you beneath.

Full Name:*........................
Tel Number*......................
Date of Birth: *....................
Sex: *..................................
Type of Identification: *........
Address: *..............................
City: *....................................
State: *..................................
Postcode: *...........................
Country: *............................

ABOVE REQUIRED DETAILS SHALL BE SENT DIRECT TO THIS EMAIL ID : wumremittransfer@gmail.com

As soon as we receive the required details from you, your first payment of {300,482.INR} will be installed to you and the transfer information such as the money transfer control numbers (MTCN) will also be sent to you so that you can easily rush to your nearest western union or money exchanger office to receive your fund.

YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.
KIND REGARDS,
WESTERN UNION OVERSEAS CONTROLLER
DR.ROBERT WAYNE
CALL OUR HOT LINE:
+447937449825
EMAIL: wumremittransfer@gmail.com

Regular Store Hours Monday: 06:00 - 20:30, Tuesday: 06:00 - 20:30, Wednesday: 06:00 - 20:30, Thursday: 06:00 - 20:30, Friday: 06:00 - 20:30, Saturday: 06:00 - 20:30
Sunday: 06:00 - 20:30

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam