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:
- "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. )
- "processing 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. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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: "MRS.CHINYERE MADU" <hsbcbankbeninrepublic2014@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrschinyeremadu@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2014 12:36:30 -0800
Subject: FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE NATIONAL HOUSE
OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX

FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
NATIONAL HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX
SENATE HOUSE - UPPER CHAMBERS WUSE DISTRICT, COTONOU BENIN
OUR REF: FGN /SNT/STB

I have to inform you again that we are not playing over this matter
that we have sent to you several times, I know my reason for the
continuous sending of this notification to you, the fact is that you
can't seem to trust any one again over this payment For what you have
been in cantered in many months ago, but I want you to be assured that
you will received your funds THROUGH THE HELP OF THIS OFFICE.I cannot
scam you for $39. The bank processing of your payment which is BANK OF
AFRICA (B.O.A), requested the processing fee of $39 .The requested $39
is clearly written to you before, I did not invent the bill to defraud
you of $39 it is an official bank payment processing fee, and the good
part of this is that you will never ever be disturbed again over any
kind of payment.

This is final and the forms from there becomes effective once we
submit your payment application processing fee and pay the form fee of
$39 I don't want you to loose this fund this time because you may
never get another such good opportunity, the federal government is
keen and very determined to pay your overdue debts, this is not a
fluke, I would not want you to loose this fund out of ignorance, I
will send you all the documents as soon as bank payment processing fee
is paid, you have to trust me, you will get your fund, find a way to
get $39 you will not loose it, instead it will bring your financial
breakthrough, find the money and send it to our bursary.

The reason why am sending you this email is because i want you to
receive your USD$800,000.00 immediately, we are trying to round up for
this payment program.
Here Is the Payment Information through Western Union money transfer
or Money Gram money transfer, finally my advice to you is not to
abandon this transaction because of the requirement of ($39)

Receivers Name:Lawrence Ubara
Address: COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
Test Question: WHEN
Answer: NOW
MTCN________________

Send all the details of the MTCN direct to this email.Furthermore I am
waiting for the payment details in your next urgent reply
Yours in service
Mrs.Chinyere Madu

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam