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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "interl.departm2@msn.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "interl.departm2@msn.com" (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.
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.
- +22991547854 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK <deskofficiall@sify.com>
Reply-To: interl.departm2@msn.com
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:44:27 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?SSBhbSBTdGlsbCBwcmVzZW50bHkgYXQgSkZLIEludGVybmF0aW9uYWwgQWly?=
=?utf-8?B?cG9ydC7igI8=?=

Dear Beneficiary,Â Â

I am a Diplomat named Mr. Williams Peter & Wilfred Prosper.,
mandated to delivey your inheritance/contract sum to you in your country
of residence. The funds total US$1.2Million and you were made the
beneficiary of these funds by a benefactor whose details will be
revealed to you after handing over the funds to you in accordance with
the Agreement I signed with the benefactor when he enlisted my
assistance in delivering the funds & Atm Card to you. I am presently
at the International Airport and before I can deliver the package
(funds & Atm Card) to you, you have to reconfirm the following
information so as to ensure that I am dealing with the right person:

1. Full Name:---

2. Residential Address:---

3. Age:---

4. Occupation:---

5. Direct Telephone Numbers.

6. A Copy of Your Identification:----

After verification of the information with what I have on file, I shall
contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time I will be
bringing your package to your residential address. Send the requested
information immediately so that I can proceed to your address, Please
try and reach me with my Call international roaming number Tele:
+229-91547854 and you can still reach me and AGENT NAME: Paul George.
Tele: +1 206-426-6305 Fax: +1 206-426-6017.

You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get it here
for you and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign
countries authority. Please get back to us via email:
interl.departm2@msn.com Furthermore remember the Agent delivering the
package does not know the content of that of the package So act on your
party by sending the $40(US$) via western union or money gram only with
the below details:

Senders Name:----

Recivers name:---- Jona Uzoma Simple

Country:--- Benin Republic

City:-- Cotonou

Text Question.----Who is our savior?

Answer ---The Lord Jesus.

MTCN:--------

Amount:--$40(US$)

Send the money via western union money transfer or money gram, and
forward the payment informations to us for easier pick up. Because of
you don't respond to us again that is the reason why we belived that you
are dead. Forward the MTCN, Q and A to this email :
interl.departm2@msn.com to enable us issue the transfer to your position
accordingly. Please try all you can to send this fee today and call the
agent today. AGENT NAME: Paul George. Tele: +1 206-426-6305 Fax: +1
206-426-6017. Please note that the delivery agent must deliver your card
to you by today if you can comply with the requirement by this morning.

Waiting to hear from you soon.

Thanks and we remain the Financial Bank Customer care promising to serve you better.

Regard

Mr. Williams Peter & Wilfred Prosper.

I am presently at the International Airport

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam