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: "FBI DIRECTOR" <info.fbioffice2@yandex.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 20:08:47 +0800 (CST)
Subject: TAG & STAMP In BENIN/ Send the fee $79 by Western union or Money
Gram only with the name below:

Attention Please .

Thank you for accepting my email , We have gone to the Fedex service and send you your ATM CARD, and now your ATM CARD is right now at USA & was stop by the custom office there in USA, Please they are requesting for TAG & STAMP are Normally Obtained benin republic Before The Delivery will be release to your destination address by today once you reconfirm us your full details again.
We have To Obtain The TAG & STAMP In BENIN REPUBLIC & send Them to The USA for the final release of your ATM CARD. Please note that your tracking details are: HF258452854214US. Due to the stop at USA, you can not track it now till you send the requested fee of $79(US$), to get you the TAG & STAMP In BENIN before you can track it and confirm it.

Please you have to understand that you have to send the $79(US$) with the Name : Orji Chukwu, I have to reconfirm it to you again. You have to send te fee by Western union or Money Gram only: Payment should be made Via Western union or Money Gram only with the name below:

Senders Name:----
Recivers name:---- Orji Chukwu
Country:--- Benin
City:-- Cotonou
Text Question.----What for?
Answer ---Tag
MTCN:--------
Amount:--$79(US$)

Please as soon as you send the money, Please do send us the MTCN, or Please call me or i will call you this morning once you reconfirm me your direct telephone number/ full details home address or your work address again, so that there will be no erro with the delivery and so that we can finishup every things by today without any further delay again. Please try all you can to send this fee by today so that we can get all the require documents by today.

Waiting to hear from you soon.

And let us know my conformation the MTCN.

Laura M. Laughlin (Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge)/ Robert Mueller.
CC: Robert Mueller (FBI Director)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam