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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22998734449 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- fraudalarto.ffice@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr.freedman mair <dr.freedmanmair12@msn.com>
Reply-To: <fraudalarto.ffice@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 16:28:58 +0000
Subject: DIAMOND BANK PLC. /UNITED NATIONS 2009 COMPENSATIONS PAYMENTS
DIRECTIVE.

Attn: Beneficiary;

This is to bring to your notice that I am delegated from the United Nations Office and Diamond Bank Plc. to pay 100 Benin Republic 419 scam victims £520,000.00 usd each, you are listed and approved for this payments as one of the scammed victims, get back to us as soon as possible for the immediate payments of your £520,000.00 usd compensations funds.

On this faithful recommendations want you to know that during the last UN meeting held at Proto Novo, Capital Of Benin Republic, it was alarmed so much by the rest of the world in the meeting on the lose of funds by various foreigners to the scams artists operating in syndicates all over the world today, in other to retain the good image of the country, the president of the country DR. YAYI IBONI is now paying 100 victims of this operators £520,000.00 USD each, Due to the corrupt and inefficient banking systems in Benin Republic, the payments are to be paid by Diamond Bank Plc. as corresponding paying bank under funding assistance by the National Westminster bank London. According to the number of applicants at hand,84 beneficiaries has been paid ,half of the victims are from the United States and Asia, we still have more 16 left to be paid the compensations of £520,000.00 each.

Your particulars was mentioned by one of the syndicates who was arrested in Cotonou as one of their victims of the operations, you are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to him for any reason what so ever, the US secret service is already on trace of the criminal, You can receive your compensations payments via DIAMOND BANK WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER (PAYMENT DEPARTMENT OFFICE).

Furthermore you are advice to reconfirm your billing address include your full name and direct contact telephone number to the Manager Diamond Bank Western Union Money Transfer Payment Consultant Office for the immediate transfer of your money through there department, the contact information is as follows:MANAGER DIMOND BANK WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER (PAYMENT DEPARTMENT OFFICE.)

NAME: Mr. Robinson Ewelem.
Direct Line: +229 98734449
Email: (fraudalarto.ffice@gmail.com)

Call Mr. Robinson Ewelem immediately you get this mail to enable him speed up for your payment or you send him an e-mail forwarding all the necessary information’s required from you so that they will commence on processing. But I will advise that you try and call him to facilitate your payment.

Yours faithfully,
Dr.Freedman Mair

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam