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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: OPERATION MANAGER <scrtarygnerl@gmail.com>
Reply-To: OPERATION MANAGER <uu_u.scustomborderprotection961@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2015 07:43:10 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION DEAR


ATTENTION DEAR

INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS NOW, STATES THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 24HOURS TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OFYOUR MTCN TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST $4500 USD FROM YOUR TOTAL (FUND) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT WE HAVE THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE AS FROM $45Usd UP FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.YOU ARE TO PAY WHAT EVER YOU HAVE AS FROM $45Usd FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE; WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT.HERE IS THE PAYMENT FOR THE $4.500 USD USD BUT YOU CAN NOT PICK IT UP BECAUSE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAX OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC SAY THAT BEFORE YOU PICK THAT MONEY YOU MUST PAY THE ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE OK.


 Sender-------western union
 MTCN--------1978876450
 Text Question--------HOW LONG
 Answer---------TODAY
 Amount-------$3,500 USD


 BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR ACTIVATION UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT $4500 USD U, ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO DEACTIVATE YOUR MTCN OF WHICH YOU WILL AND CAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE SUM I WANT YOU TO SEND THE RENEWING AND TRANSFER FEE WITH THE INFORMATION BELLOW.


 1.RECEIVER NAME:...AUSTINE  IKE
 2.COUNTRY:.........BENIN REPUBLIC.
 3.CITY :...........COTONOU
 4.TEST QUESTION:....WHO MADE US
 5.TEST ANSWER:.....GOD ALMIGHTY
 6.AMOUNT .......$45

 SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST RECEIPT OF YOUR $4500 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW CONTACT THIS EMAIL ADDRESS: THIS MESSAGE IS FROM WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC,CONTACT THEN FOR YOUR PAYMENT.

 BEST REGARDS
 JOSEPH IZU
 OPERATION MANAGER
 +229-99717848
 Répondre, Répo

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