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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: Patricia Williams <notifications208@gmail.com>
Reply-To: moneygram_transfer@fastservice.com
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2022 07:15:41 +0100
Subject: Please, your attention is needeed.

--
MoneyGram Transfer Department - Send money worldwide
Fax: +229 69 92 61 72
Website: https://www.moneygram.com/intl/en
Address: Agla, Loko Lokossou Expedit C. lot 3907, Cotonou, Benin

Fund Ownership Authorization Code: A/RES/70/244

Dear, Mr./Mrs:

Please be advised that the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot
has instructed us to transfer your compensation fund, totaling
$9,800,000.00, through our MoneyGram money transfer service. You will
receive $5,000.00 twice a day until the entire $9,800,000.00 has been
transferred to you.

Today, our office processed your first $5,000 payment via the
MoneyGram money transfer service. Therefore, I recommend that you
contact our MoneyGram Transfer Manager (Mr. Louis Chuma) and provide
him with the information requested below so that he knows where to
send your first $5,000 and then provide you with your first reference
number.

This is the information required to process your first $5,000 payment.
Send it to the email address below.

Contact person: Louis Chuma
WhatsApp: +229 55 73 24 10
Email: moneygram_transfer@fastservice.com

Your full name: _________________
Country: _________________
City: _________________
Phone number: _________________
Address: _________________

Please remember to send him your full contact information as indicated
above so that your money is not sent to the wrong address.

Sincerely,

Patricia Williams
Customer Service, MoneyGram Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources: