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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: "Mr. John Wilfred" <rakeshminu@jethani.com>
Reply-To: johnwilfred61@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:09:03 -0400
Subject:




ATTENTION: YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS NOW, STATES THAT
YOU ONLY HAVE 24 HOURS TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR MTCN
TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST INSTALLMENT PAYMENT $5,000:00 FROM YOUR
TOTAL (FUNDS) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT OF
$250. WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND SEND THE SUM OF $50 FOR
THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM
OF THE MONEY REQUIRED, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.YOU ARE TO SEND THE $50
NOW SO THAT WE CAN ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IT IS PLACE ON HOLD BY
THE MANAGEMENT AND YOU CAN NOT BE ABLE TO PICK IT UP UNTIL YOU SEND THE
DEMAND FEE WHICH IS THE $50 FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE .

YOU CAN CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO TRACK THE STATUE OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT
IF IT DID NOT WORK BY CLICKING COPY AND PASTE THE LINK AND TRACK THE
TRANSFER WITH THE MTCN TO VIEW THE STATUS.

https://www.westernunion.com/au/en/web/global-service/track-transfer

1.SENDER NAME:... AGENT MARION
2.TEST QUESTION:....WHAT COLOR?
3.TEST ANSWER:......WHITE.
4.AMOUNT ..........$5000 USD
5.MTCN.....415-794-0653 (AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP BY THE RECEIVER)

BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR ACTIVATION
UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST US $5,000 , 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 TRANSACTION. NOTE, THAT THE PAYMENT IS TO BE
MADE VIA PAYPAL, BITCOIN, OR GIFT CARDS. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND BUY AN APPLE
GIFT CARD OR SEPHORA GIFT CARD OR REQUEST FOR BITCOIN WALLET OR PAYPAL
EMAIL.

WE CONGRATULATE YOU IN ADVANCE.
MR. JOHN WILFRED.
EMAIL: J.WILFRED33@YAHOO.COM
PHONE: +1(281)888-8122.

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