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. )
- "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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- +447077075680 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Western Union" <ideypipe@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: flcltdx1@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:12:45 -0400
Subject: State Winners Funds Via Western Union Money Transfer 2.5m Usd.Call
Today

State Winners Funds Via Western Union Money Transfer 2.5m Usd.Call Today

FROM THE WESTERN UNION
Q8 ACORD HSE BROAD VIEW
LONDON ENGLAND UK

NAME:.Mr Chaselaw Pun

PHONE:+447077-075-680
PHONE:+447-02406-1363
PHONE:+447-02405-5051
PHONE:+447-02407-7324

REF: CBN/IRD/-NY-CBX/021/11

WESTERN UNION INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT ONLY.

Attention,

Serial number 5368/02

TK :56475600545 188
LK: KTU/9023118308

Security payment Identification Number: 5368/02
Call GENERAL Chaselaw Pun : PHONE:+447077-075-680 OR PHONE:+447-02406-1363

This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract
Unpaid Unclaimed file presently on my desk, and we found out that you have
not received your payment due to lack of co-operation and not fulfilling
the obligations giving to you in respect to your contract Email Address
Funds and lottery payment through your payment bank.

Your Over-due payment please confirm for immediate release. Get back to me
immediately for necessary steps concerning your Winning Claims. Sequel to
your none reply of my earlier email to you dated Today. On behalf of the
Trustees and Executors to your Unclaimed Funds file of Funds month ago, I
wish to notify
you that your name And Email Address appeared in the Central computing
system in our ministry as the rightful owner for the un

paid beneficiary as the statement of the Funds and you entitled part
payment of your total inheritance funds of $2. Million through Western
Union Money Transfer System Easter celebration in this New Year season as
authorized by Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Reserve, with the
Central bank.

After the Law Enforcement judgment between the UNITED NATION ORGANIZATION
Agent Mr. Bill Wash and Compensation finance head office, The meeting held
today, with the aforementioned Office and Banks, the Concluded arrangement
has appointed our office (Western Union Money Transfer) to pay your unpaid
fund through western union electronic system for your easy pickup and to
avoid further unforeseen delay that could make your fund not to get to you
in a timely manner.

The Management of the UNITED NATION ORGANISATION HEAD BRANCH here in West
LONDON have submitted your name, city and country
information’s to our office for endorsement & daily activation of your
payment which has been programmed to be transferred under installment at
rate of $5,000 United States America Dollars daily as Western Union laws
here does not allow transferring funds above $5,000 at once from this
country to another, but will be sending under installment of $5,000 daily
till the amount is completely paid.

In other words, We have today transferred your first installment payment
available for your Pick-Up at any western union office nearest to you,
(but The Money Is still on hold) due to the unpaid endorsement & daily
activation file fee amount of 89 USD you supposed to pay before your daily
transfer will be made available to you daily.

Secondly, you are hereby advice to stop dealing with your present
transaction either from ASIA/EUROPE they are Fraudulent Offices and the
non-officials member of the Bank as this is an illegal act and You have to
stop further communication, if you wish to receive your payment
immediately through the Western Union Office.

SECTION A

You are advised to re-confirm to me your details as required below to
enable the release of your payment total funds worth $2. Million to you as
a matter of urgency with the required below details:-

(1). Re-confirm your full names:
(2). Re-confirm Contact address:
(3). Re-confirm valid Phone #:
(4). Fax:
(5). Age:
(6). Occupation:
(7). Mode of Payment:

SECTION B

We wish to inform you based on a lot of junks mail flying over the
internet and some people are using advantage to collect account
information from people on internet for fraudulent purpose, that is while
it was assigned and approved by International Monetary Fund (IMF) that
your payment will come through Western Union Money Transfer system and
also your funds as been programmed to be release to you through western
union, twice a day, after collection.

As soon as the above are provided, Western Union department in conjunction
with Federal Ministry of Finance will contact you with the West ern Union
Payment information to enable you cash your money daily. The amount you
will be receiving twice per day is US$5,000.00 and the MTCN number will be
sending along with the Text Questions & Answers for you to receive your
fund through any Western Union Location in your Country due to IMF
Control, IRS and Home Land Security.

Our Regards and we are sorry for the inconvenience please bear with us.

We look forward to serving you better.

Best regards,
NAME:Mr Chaselaw Pun
Western Union Payments
FORIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE LONDON UK

NAME:.Mr Chaselaw Pun

PHONE:+447077-075-680
PHONE:+447-02406-1363
PHONE:+447-02405-5051
PHONE:+447-02407-7324

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam