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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: "DEPARTMENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wes.office2016@yandex.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:06:02 -0800
Subject: Welcome to Western UnionSend Money Worldwide::Office Line : +229-9928-6146

Welcome to Western UnionSend Money Worldwide::Office Line : +229-9928-6146
E-mail : wes.office2016@yandex.com
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER. COTONOU BENIN
REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA
ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.
WEBSITE.www.westernunion. comšhttp://site.www. westernunion.comMOBILE

I want to inform you that we have already sent you $4000.00 US Dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full over due
payment total sum of $1,200.000.00 USD, via western union by the International Monitory Fund (IMF). I tried reaching you on phone to give you all the information on phone but I couldn't get through yesterday,

So I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you can pick up the $4000.00 to enable us send another $4000.00 today, as you know we will be sending you
$4000.00 only per day. And it was agreed that you will pay the tax clearance fee of $79 before the release of the payment to you.

Please pick up this information in any locate western union around you the sum of $4000.00 and call the Operation Manager Rev Tony Francis because he is the
person in charge of your payment, and he can send you another payment today once you contact him,

contact E-mail: & phone (union.western42@yahoo.com)
Telephone(+229) 9928-6146

Below is the western union information to pick up the $4000.00; which you will be receiving daily after you sent them their tax clearance fee of $79 and it
will serve as re-confirmation of your payment file in their office.

Here is the Senders Information;
SENDERS NAME: JONH LOUIS
MTCN:2100852232#

Note that you can not pick up this transfer till you send them the required $79 for the tax clearance as it is the only delay they are facing and below is the
information to send the required fee via western union money transfer.

Receiver's Name: PITO KELVIN
Country: Benin Republic
City:Cotonou
Text Q: When?
Answer: now.
Amount: $79.00
Senders
Name:
Mtcn Number:

Be advice that $79 for the tax clearance fee is compulsory as they told me that is the only money you will pay until you receive your payment completely.
Endeavor to E-mail your direct telephone number because you will be called once the payment information's is sent to you.

Regards
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT

Anti-fraud resources: