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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "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 gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "robert mueller" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real FBI will not tell you to contact some email address. If you are in any doubt, contact an FBI field office via www.fbi.gov. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "info.washingtonpoliceheadqq@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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: "Washington Dc Police Headquarters" <info.washingtonpoliceheadqq@yandex.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 18:15:02 +0800 (CST)
Subject: ATM CARD/ Fee $62 Or You will be arrested///$62 TO Orji Chukwu BY
Money Gram Only//Pleaded on your behalf so that this our police agent could
give you today been 23/08/2013.

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WASHINGTON DC POLICE HEADQUARTERS & INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT
Metropolitan Police Dept. Government of the District of Columbia 300 Indiana Avenue NW 5th Floor Washington,
DC 20001

Telephone: +1 (206)-333-0963
Fax: +1 (206)-666-3991
Email: info.washingtonpoliceheadqq@yandex.com

Attention Please .

Well, I am Chief Cathy Lanier From Washington Dc Police Headquarters & investigation department, We heard that (Fbi Director) Robert Mueller & Mr. Peter Williams (Atm Payment Department Financial Bank) have warned you so many times and you have decided to ignore his e-mails, because you believe we have not been instructed to get you arrested since then now we have instructed by (Fbi Director) Robert Mueller & Mr. Peter Williams (Atm Payment Department Financial Bank to arrest you , we receive a report from the both officers, and this office has given you 2hours to get the final fee of $62for your delivery, send it to this office, so that we can deliver your Atm card to your destination address. or you will be arrested by our corresponding police office nearby, because both of them has summitte all your informations, such as your home address/ Passport & direct telephone numbers to our office & if you don't comply today we will start forwarding all your details to our corresponding police office nearby.

Note: If they refuse to send you the Atm card today, as soon as you send the require fee of $62, Please update us then we will get both of them arrested (Mr. Peter William & Mr. Robert Mueller ) & If you refuse to comply with our office, we will get you arrested as soon as possible. Etc. Final Warning get back to us with the full details informations & the payment details, so that we can carry out this investigation this morning for your final delivery.

(Fbi Director) Robert Mueller & Mr. Peter Williams (Atm Payment Department Financial Bank) pleaded on your behalf so that this our police agent could give you today been 23/08/2013, as a grace to send the require fee and your full details, so that we can get this process done because i learnt that (Mr. Peter William & Mr. Robert Mueller ) sent several e-mail without getting a response with the payment details & your full details from you, please bear it in mind that this is the only way that i can be able to help you at this moment or you would have to face the law and its consequences once it has befall on you today . You are advice to make the payment of $62 within 2hours time through Western union or money gram only with the below details.

Receiver Name:_________Orji Chukwu

Receivers Address:________C/44 Akapakpa Centra
Country:________Benin Republic
City:_________Cotonou
City Code:_______00229
Question:____Who is our savior?
Answer:_____Lord Jesus

Amount:____$62
MTCN Number:_________

Send the payment details to me so that i can forward it to (Mr. Peter William & Mr. Robert Mueller ), Payment details needed: senders name and address, mtcn number, text question and answer used and the amount sent. Please do reconfirm us your full details:

1. Full Name______
2. Home Address______
3. Telephone/Mobile Phone number______
4. Sex_________
5. Ocupation________

N/B: Make sure that you didn't hesitate making the payment down to the agent, so that they could have the certificate endorsed, signed and stamped immediately without any further delay. you have only 2hours to get back to us because we are not happy with all this delay.

Waiting to hear from you soon.

Thanks,

Best Regards,

Chief Cathy Lanier, DC Metro Police

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam