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:
- "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)
- "abuja" (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.
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.
- +2347065223215 (Nigeria, 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.
- drsholardesk@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Department Of Public Informations <inquiries@unitednations.org>
Reply-To: drsholardesk@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:00:08 -0300
Subject: United Nations Scam Victim Compensation Beneficiary (PAYMENTS
CODE: 06654 $400,000.00 USD ONLY)

SCAMMED VICTIM/521 BENEFICIARIES REF/PAYMENTS CODE: 06654 $400,000.00 USD ONLY

This is to bring to your notice that I am a delegate from the United
Nations to The IMF (International Monetary Fund) West Africa Regional
Payment Office to pay 521 scam victims $400,000.00 USD (Four Hundred
Thousand Dollars only) each. You are listed and approved for this
payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid this amount,get back
to me as soon as possible for the immediate payments of your $400,000
USD compensations funds.On this faithful recommendations, I want you
to know that during the last U.N. meetings held at Abuja, Federal
Republic of Nigeria, it was alarmed so much by the world in the
meetings on the lost of funds by various individual to scam artist
operating in syndicates all over the world today.

In other to compensate these victims, the U.N Body is now paying 521
victims of this operators $400,000.00 USD each in accordance with the
U.N .recommendations. Due to the corrupt and in-efficient Banking
Systems in Federal Republic of Nigeria, the payments are to be paid by
UN officials sitting at IMF(International Monetary Fund) West Africa
Regional Payment Office as corresponding payment centre under funding
assistance by United Nation body.
According to the number of applicants at hand, 284 Beneficiaries has
been paid, half of the victims are from the United States, and we
still have more 237 left to be paid the compensations of $400,000.00
USD each. Your particulars was mentioned by one of the Syndicates who
was arrested 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 as the U.S. Secret service is already on trace of
the other criminals. So keep it secret till they are all apprehended.
Other victims who have not been Contacted can submit their application
as well for scrutiny and possible consideration. You can receive your
compensations payments via.

1. ATM CARD
2. CHECK PAYMENT

Indicate your option and send your full Name and telephone number/your
correct mailing address where you want us to send the compensation to.
To UN Representative: Dr Shola Omoregie
Email: drsholardesk@yahoo.com.hk
Phone: +234-7065223215

Please you are adviced to stop any communication with any person or
Boby that you are currently paying money to due to transaction which
you have online with the person.Please let us know right now via email
or telephone your present dealing online,so we can help you varify the
authenticity of the transaction which you are presently involved in,so
you dont get scammed.

Please also send me prof of payment in any previous scam.If you still
have any.

I shall feed you with further modalities as soon as I hear from you.
Do feel free to call me any time on my telephone number.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Shola Omoregie
United Nation Representative
http://www.un.org/sg

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam