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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: "Mr. Wilson Otipu" <wilotipu@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2021 17:19:09 +0000
Subject: Contact Western union for your payment!

My dear friend,

How are you doing? There is good news for you. I want you to rejoice
because I have succeeded in the transaction with the help of my foreign
partner. Though I tried my best to involve you in the business, God decided
the whole situation that it was not accomplished by you. But because of
your past efforts and attempts to assist me despite it failing us somehow,
I compassionately kept a cheque of US$800,000.00 at the Western union
department for your compensation before I traveled out of the country. They
promised to transfer a sum of US$5,000 daily via Western union until the
funds are completely transferred as the law does not permit to send more
than US$5,000 in a day to one receiver. Moreover, because I did not receive
any appreciation from you since two years that I issued the cheque has
prompted me to call the bank for enquiry, but they told me you did not
contact the bank. The bank said they sent several messages to you but all
bounced back, all their efforts proved abortive. Then I decided to contact
you on my own and it wasn't successful until I noticed there was a mistake
in your email address. Therefore, if you have received any of the letters,
I want you to contact Mr. Edwin Udene through his email address; (
edwiudene@gmail.com) and tell him to transfer your first payment of
US$5,000.

Forward the required information below to him;

1. Your full names
2. Your phone number
3. Your country and address.

I am still busy with the project, but expecting to hear you have received
the fund.

Best regards.
Mr. Wilson Otipu.

Anti-fraud resources: