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:
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "mgu1000@post.ro" (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.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- m.petesuggs@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Paulson Smith, Chairman Economic Community of West African States."
<m.paulson28@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mgu1000@post.ro>
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:53:10 +0000
Subject: Hello Dearest Friend,Please Contact My Secretary for Your
compensation fund.

Message From Mr.Paulson Smith, Chairman,
Economic Community of West African States (ECO WAS).
Contract Awarding Committee of with its fund Headquarters in Accra-Ghana.
Email: mgu1000@post.ro

Hello Dearest Friend,

I am glad to inform you that I have successfully concluded the transaction which i seek for your family help. Now the money has been transferred to Germany through the assistant of Mr.Howard Ferraro, who is a business man base in Germany. Currently I am in Germany with him and my wife and children. However, I did not forget your family because they are the source of my success, they made me what I am now though they are not there to complete this project with me but I gave all the credit and thanks to GOD. I know it is not their fault or rather their wish to back off on me and the transaction, I understand it was simply because of some circumstances they could not control.

In appreciate of their assistance I have mapped out as a Compensation and wrote on their favor a certified bank Draft worth of US$2.500.000.00.(two million five hundred thousand, United States Dollar Only) I left the Bank draft with my Secretary Mr.Pete Suggs, on my departure to Germany. I would like you to contact him with the below information and instruct him where to send the certified bank Draft to you because I have directed him on that already.

Name: Mr.Pete Suggs,
Email: (mpetesuggs@ibibo.com) or (m.petesuggs@yahoo.fr)
Phone: +226 750 102 97.

As soon as you receive the certified bank Draft you let me know because I am busy here trying to put things together and may not be chanced to email you frequently. Feel free to contact him for your certified bank Draft. I will stop here. Once again, thank you and your family very much and remain blessed.

Best Regards,

Mr.Paulson Smith, Chairman, Economic Community of West African States (ECO WAS) Contract Awarding Committee of with its fund Headquarters in Accra-Ghana.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam