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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "deskofficiall001@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "deskofficiall001@live.fr" (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.
- +22993126095 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: FBI DIRECTOR <info.fbioffice2@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2012 09:23:08 +0100
Subject: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT, WILL WARRANT URGENT ARREST BY
THE FBI & WASHINGTON POLICE.-------------

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION..
J. EDGAR. HOOVER BUILDING WASHINGTON D.C
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.WASHINGTON DC.

FBI SEEKING TO WIRETAP INTERNET

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SEEKING TO WIRETAP THE INTERNET.

Attention Please.

The Federal Bureau Of Investigation is just trying to make you
understand that you most finish the process with the Mr. Williams
Peter of Atm Payment Department Financial Bank (so mercy ) within
3hours to get your parcel of ATM-Card delivered to you.

>From the information received here in our office, you are to go ahead
and send to him the money for shippment of your ATM-Card which is the
only hitch to the finalization of the transaction you have with them
in Benin Republic.Then ATM-Card from Today , your parcel (ATM-Card)
will be deliver as scheduled from our investigations. You are required
to receive your parcel of ATM-Card once the transfer of their required
fee is made by you, to enable him send your ATM-Card to you
immediately.

We have been contacted by Mr.James Isaac who work with Federal Bureau
of Investigation(FBI), Benin Republic, that Mr. Williams Peter of Atm
Payment Department Financial Bank contacted them concerning your
parkage which they are holding and to know why they have not head from
you. Why this, is because people do sue them to court accusing their
company of stealing people pacakges.

So, from the information received here in our office and after our
long due investigation, we find out that their company is real and
legal and that you most finish the process with the Mr. Williams Peter
(so mercy ) within 3hours remaining to get your parcel of ATM-Card
deliver to you.

Note that if the requested delivery not finish before 3hours which is
the deadline day given to you, you will be suspect as among the people
measuring force Alligations against Mr. Williams Peter of stealing
people pacakges and we would have to radio your local Police Authority
to inform them about this and also fax them a Warrant for your arrest
which would be effectively made, which is punishable under Article 13
of Section 109 on the US Constitutional Law.

NOTE: From our investigation and final conclusion with Dr.Paul
Williams in Benin Republic, your delivery is to be made within 3hours
after you have make the payment to them, if he fails to do that he
will be arrested . Therefore, you are required to keep us updated as
soon as you finalizes with them.

Find the below informations giving to us by Mr. Williams Peter on how
you can send the money across to them through western union money
transfer Or money gram;

Senders Name:----
Recivers name:---- Kelvin O. Omokwe
Recivers Address: C/44 Akapakpa Centra
Country:--- Benin Republic
City:-- Cotonou
Question:----Final
Answer:-fee
MTCN:--------
Amount:--$48(US$)

As soon as you make the payment call him on +229-93126095 or
you can mail him the payment information, such as the mtcn number via
this E-mail Address; deskofficiall001@live.fr, to enable him pick up
the money from the western union office there. Or you can send it to
us (Federal Bureau of Investigation) the payment information via this
Email Address to send it across to him on your half.

We investigated and we have assured you that you should stop any other
transaction and finish with the Mr. Mr. Williams Peter (so
mercy),E-MAIL: deskofficiall001@live.fr

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.

VICTOR COLLINS
BENIN CONSULATE TO THE FBI

(+1)-206-350-1002
ROOM 7367 J. EDGAR HOOVER FBI BUILDING
935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20535
FBI Director
Robert S. Mueller, III

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam