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:

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. )
- "robert mueller" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real FBI will not tell you to contact some email address. If you are in any doubt, contact an FBI field office via www.fbi.gov. )
- "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: "Florida Police Headquarters & Investigation Crime Department" <info.policeheadqq@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:15:14 +0100
Subject: I Learnt that Mr. Robert Mueller sent several e-mail without getting
a response*

FLORIDA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Addresses: Orlando Police Department Headquarters 100 South, Hughey
Avenue Orlando, Florida. Usa.
Tele:
(863) 4947125
Fax:
(863) 4296545
===============================================================
Attention "

We heard that Mr. Robbert Mueller have warned you so many times and you
have decided to ignore his e-mails or because you believe we have not been
instructed to get you arrested since then, now we have instructed by Robert
Mueller to arrest you , we receive a report from Mr. Robert Mueller, the
Fbi director. He told us that your Atm card is still right with them,
that you have 2hours to get the fee of $43 send to him so that they can
deliver your card to your destination address. or you will get arrested,
because he has summitte all your informations and your address to our
office. Note: If they refuse to send you the card today, as soon as you
send the require fee, Please update us then we will get both of them
arrested (Peter William & Mr. Robert Mueller ) Etc. Final Warning get back
to us with the full details informations and the payment details, so that
we can carry out this investigation today.

Mr. Robert Mueller pleaded on your behalf so that this agency could give
you today been 13/08/2012, so that you could get this process done
because i learnt that Mr. Robert Mueller sent several e-mail without
getting a response with the payment details from you, please bear it in
mind that this is the only way that i can be able to help you at this
moment or you would have to face the law and its consequences once it has
befall on you today . You would make the payment of $43within 2hours time
through western union money transfer or money gram with the below details.

Receiver Name:_________Jona U. Simple
Country:________Benin Republic
City:_________Cotonou
City Code:_______00229
Question:----What for?
Answer:---Final
MTCN Number:_________

Send the payment details to me so that i can forward it to Mr. Robert
Mueller, Payment details needed: senders name and address, mtcn number,
text question and answer used and the amount sent. Please do reconfirm us
your full details:

1. Full Name______
2. Home Address______
3. Telephone/Mobile Phone number______
4. Sex_________
5. Ocupation________

Make sure that you didn't hesitate making the payment down to the agency by
today so that they could have the certificate endorsed, signed and stamped
immediately without any further delay. you have only 2hours to get back to
us.

Waiting to hear from you soon.

Best Regards
Police Chief

Mrs. Jane Castor.
Michele
Smith

Orlando
*Police Department*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam