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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "processing fee" (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. )
- "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)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK <deskofficiall@sify.com>
Reply-To: interl.departm2@msn.com
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:18:30 +0100 (BST)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?SU5URVJOQVRJT05BTCBQQVlNRU5UIFZPVUNIRVIgIyBJTUYvRlJCV0RDL0JP?=
=?utf-8?B?QS05M1dCODJVTjU2Ny1H4oCP?=

>From the Desk of DR. PETER WILLIAMS Â
Head, Presidential Adhoc Committe of Foreign Payment Settlement
Financial Bank of Benin Republic
INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT VOUCHER # IMF/FRBWDC/BOA-93WB82UN567-G

we have a meeting with the house (Federal government of Benin Republic) we informed them that your fund should not cost you any thing because is your money (Your Card). Moreover, we have an agreement with them that you should pay only delivering fee of your card which is $42 U.S. DOLLARS by FedEx Delivering Company.

However, you have only one working day to send this $42 U.S. DOLLARS for the delivering of your card, if we donâ€™t hear from you with the payment information; the Federal Government will cancel the card.

I want you to read the below notice carefully, as the notice stands as caution before it is late. for your consideration, you must be conscious of this project, as I will soon conclude this transaction with you, Incase of any e-mails, calls you receive regarding this from any individual claimed to be me, or e-mails, calls from any organization to you, such must be forwarded at once to me immediately by e-mail.

Also, it might come to you with different proposals with different names including my name asking you to come and claim your estate or even funds belonging to you or to somebody you do not know, I urge you to ignore such e-mails or calls, while you forward it to me. I want you to understand that the most important thing for me is your understanding and co-operation, again without this code (115) donâ€™t get back to me.

Moreover, first batch of your card which contains $500.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS has been activated and is the total fund loaded inside the card. Your fund which is in total 1,200,000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS will come in batches of 500.000.00 MILLION U.S.

DOLLARS and this is the first batch.Your payment would be sent to you via UPS or FedEx, Because we have signed a contract with them which should expired by may 30th, 2011. Below are few list of tracking numbers you can track from UPS website(www.ups.com) to confirm people like you who have received their payment successfully.

JOHNNY ALMANTE ==============1Z2X59394198080570
GARY METZGER ==============1Z2X59394195952759
GLEN PAPANIKAS ==============1Z2X59394198690947
CAROL R BUCZYNSKI ==============1Z2X59394197862530
KARIMA EMELIA TAYLOR ==============1Z2X59394198591527
LISA LAIRD ==============1Z2X59394196641913
POLLY SHAYKIN ==============1Z2X59394198817702

Moreover, this is another people that received there payment through fedEx website (www.FEDEX.com).

Devadass Dass====================871359761819
Charlie Love====================871359761727
Thomas Menefee===================871359809324
Patrick Craddock==================871359809313
RICHARD AUTRY ================= 869713119185
OWEN J KAYODE ================== 871363130860
MARK STUBBS =====================871363116168
LEWIS SMITH======================871358164322

In conformity with our funds release policy/standing procedures, you are advised to send the $42 U.S dollars for the processing and handling fee through Western Union Money Transfer or money gram with the information below:

Receiver: JONA UZOMA SIMPLE
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Text Question: Who is our savior?
Text Answer: The Lord Jesus.
MTCN::::::::::::::::
Senders Name::::::::::::::
Amount::::$42 Dollars::::

Email the MTCN with the full payment information's to me when the fee is sent for confirmation and immediate issuance/dispatch.
Also reconfirm the following information to me for final ratification exercise:

1} Your Full Name:
2} Your Contact Telephone and Fax Number:
3} Your Full Address:
4} Your Marital Status, Profession and Age:
5} Your International Passport/Driving License Number:

As soon as this Information is received together with the required processing fee, your ATM CARD will be sent to you as you deem fit through our most reliable channels within the shortest possible time.

Your urgent answer is needed.

Yours in Service
Best Regards

Dr. Peter Williams
Director ATM Swift Card/Foreign Operation Dept,
Financial Bank of Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam