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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- directorsonlines@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "REV. FATHER. TONY SHEDRACH JOHNSON." <directorincharge@ymail.com>
Reply-To: directorsonlines@superposta.com
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 23:05:14 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: CONTACT US AT directorsonlines@superposta.com OR FEEL FREE TO
CALL +229-988 30 814

--
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA BENIN
AGBOKOU STREET, COTONOU
P.M.B. 0127, AGBOKOU, COTONOU

ATTN,BENEFICIARY,

I AM TONY JOHNSON, DIRECTOR CASH PROCESSING UNIT,UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
[UBA] THE ONLY BANK APPOINTED BY THE O.A.U MEMBERS LED BY PRESIDENT JOHN
KUFFOR.

BECAUSE OF THE FRAUD GOING ON IN WEST AFRICA COUNTRIES WHERE SOME
INNOCENT BENEFICIARIES WERE ASKED TO PAY IN ADVANCE BEFORE RECEIVE THE
MONEY OWED TO THEM. THE ABOVE AFRICA UNION HELD MEETING IN BENIN REPUBLIC
AND RESOLVE TO PAY ALL BENEFICIARIES IN CASH THROUGH MEANS OF DIPLOMATIC
COURIER SERVICE.WE RECEIVE YOUR FILES FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY
FUND(I.M.F) AS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES.

TAKE NOTE; TEN THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$10,000) HAVE BEEN MAPED
OUT FOR ALL EXPENSES IN SENDING THE MONEY TO YOU THROUGH GENUINE
DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE AND HOW IT WAS SPENT WILL BE DETAILS TO YOU.
THEREFORE, I WANT YOU TO BEAR IT IN MIND THAT YOUR TOTAL FUND WILL BE NO
MORE ELEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS
($11,500,000.00) BUT ELEVEN MILLION FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY THOUSAND
UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($11,490,000.00).

IF ANY BODY TELLS YOU THAT HE IS PAYING YOU IN BANK DRAFT TEL E-GRAFIC
MONEY TRANSFER, DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM OR HER BECAUSE DUE TO THIS FRAUD NO
INTERNATIONAL BANK HONORS OUR REMITTANCE INSTRUCTION ANY MORE. THAT IS WHY
WE SETTLED TO PAY IN CASH THROUGH COURIER .

WE ALSO RECEIVED A SECURITY REPORT THAT YOU PAID THE FRAUDSTERS WHO HAVE
BEEN DECEIVING YOU, TELLING YOU THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEND THIS MONEY TO
YOU.DEAR,AS A SENIOR BANKER, CONTROLLING THIS CASH PAYMENT NOW, I ADVISE
YOU NOT TO WASTE YOUR MONEY BY PAYING ANY BODY IN ADVANCE AGAIN, AND
IF YOU JUST FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTION, YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR MONEY IN THREE
DAYS TIME.
YOUR FUND WILL NOW BE PACKAGE IN BOX AND TAKE TO THE DIPLOMATIC COURIER
SERVICE FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPPMENT, BUT THE KEY TO THE BOX WILL SENT TO YOU
SEPARATELY BY (D.H.L) TO AVOID THE COURIER SERVICE STAFF INTERCEPTING
WITH THE CONTENT. I WILL ALSO SEND THE PICTURE OF THE BOX BY ATTACHMENT TO
YOU TO SEE HOW THE MONEY IS PACKED

I WILL SEND YOU MORE MAILS TO GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION OR WITH MY
INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE GENUINE OF THIS TRANSACTION.

THEREFORE, DO FORWARD YOUR HOME
ADDRESS AND DIRECT PHONE NUMBER TO ME FOR QUICK DELIVERY BECAUSE TIME IS
NOT IN OUR SIDE.

ALL THE DOCUMENTS WILL BE SENT TO YOU IF AM ASSURED THAT YOU HAVE STOPPED
SENDING MONEY TO THOSE FRAUDSTERS . BUT GOD WILL SURELY JUDGE ALL OF THEM
WHO LIVES BY CHEATING. MY BIBLE SAYS WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN IF YOU GAIN
THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOOSE YOUR SOUL.

IAM WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU WITH THE REQUIRED INFORMATION OF YOURS.

REV SHEDRACK
DIRECTOR CASH PROCESSING UNIT
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
CONTACT US AT directorsonlines@superposta.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam