419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "activation fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money transfer control number" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: woods patman <woodspatman@westernunion.com>
Reply-To: woodspatman74@aol.com
Date: Mon, 04 Jul 2011 07:50:03 -0600
Subject: Track Your 1st Payment Online.........Money Transfer Control
Number (M.T.C.N):8078929700

Dear Valued Customer,

This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract
inheritance
file presently on my desk, and we found out that you have not received your
payment due to lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the obligations
giving to
you in respect to your contract inheritance and lottery payment through your
payment bank.You are to track your first install mental payment online at
www.westernunion.com for available fund for your verification purpose.Below is
the Western Union Details for you record, You can Track it online now.

Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):8078929700
Senders First Name:Peter
Senders Last Name: Gordon

I have been out all day trying to make thing work for you because i have been
able to get the clearance certificate signed out and submitted to the
Home-Land
Security in Michigan, I'm giving you 100% guarantee from the bottom of
my heart
that as soon as you pay the activation fee I will activate your online account
and release of the total funds and Information from the Office of the bank
stated that an activation Charge is always required on funds ranging from
$4000.00 and above in order to avoid any interference by any
authority on your
pick up location due to the on-going terrorist attack and money
laundering world
wild. Therefore, it remain very necessary that we get this process
completed on
your behalf for the safety of the released of this fund to you. You
have to pay
a one time Official activation Charge of $325 for full authorization of this
fund.I am very happy that I have concluded all necessary steps as requested by
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) United state and they have already
approved the issuance of the funds immediately, in the next 2hours.

I promise YOU.Just try your best and send the activation fee .then be rest
assured that you must receive your payment this time.daily activation of your
payment which has been programmed to be transferred under installment
at rate of
$8,000 daily as Western Union laws here does not allow transferring
funds above
$8,000 at once from the State to another, but will be sending under
installment
of $8,000 daily till the amount is completely paid. In other words, We have
today transferred for your first installment payment available for
your Pick-Up
at any western union office nearest to you, but still on hold due to
the unpaid
endorsement & daily activation file fee amount of $325 you supposed to pay
before your daily transfer will be made available to you daily.You will pickup
the below install mental payment at any western union office nearest
to you with
the below information's as soon as you send the $325 endorsement & daily
activation file fee today.

Waiting for your urgent respond.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr Woods Patman
TEL :506 800-0547

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam