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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "dandhlcustomerservicebj@gala.net" (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 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.
- +229988311977 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms. Joyce Idima" <ss---138sss---hhs@att.net>
Reply-To: joyceidima@msn.com
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:42:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?WW91ciBDb3Jwb3JhdGUgVmlzYSBBdG0gQ2FyZCBQYWNrYWdlL0NhcmdvIERl?=
=?utf-8?B?bGl2ZXJ54oCP4oCP?=

Dearest Beneficiary,

Having reviewed all the obstacles and problems surrounding the transfer of your (USD$2,500,000.00) and your inability to meet up with some charges levied against you due to the past transfer options, We the Board of Directors, Bank Of Africa (BOA) has ordered our Foreign Payment Remittance Unit to issue you a CORPORATE VISA CARD where your payment will be uploaded, and today we got notice that your Payment has been uploaded into this CORPORATE VISA CARD and also have registered it with Dhl in their reference registration CODE NÂ°Â² {DkAPLEUB119} for delivery to you. Also indicate this Registration CODE NÂ°Â² {DkAPLEUB119}.

For your information, The delivery charges has been paid and they were supposed to have shipped your packaged but they insisted that you must re-confirm to them your current delivery address to ensure accurate Delivery.

MOST IMPORTANT: Due to the content of the package/parcel, DHL mandated that before your package/parcel will be shipped, Tax/Stamp Duty must be procured according to the New Customs working policy and the essence of such Document is to ensure a hitch-free delivery and the amount is $150.

Therefore reconfirm your current delivery address (i.e 1. Full Names, 2. Delivery Address and 3. Telephone Number) to DHL.

Dr. Dangi Rich
DHL International Benin
Lot No. 23 Patte D'Oie
03 BP 2147 Cotonou
Email: dandhlcustomerservicebj@gala.net
Tel: +229 988311977

Please hurry now as your package/parcel might accumulate dumurrages if it stays more than 3days with DHL.

Thanks,
Ms. Joyce Idima

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam