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:
- "atmcardfile@onet.pl" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +22993477770 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- atmcardfile@onet.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: United Bank for Africa <valterboj@tin.it>
Reply-To: atmcardfile@onet.pl
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 05:25:05 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Re: Please read this message urgently as I await your immediate
response on my email: (atmcardfile@onet.pl).

Dear Sir,
My name is Miss Gladys Ahijo. I am 26yrs old, just stated work with the United Bank for Africa (UBA) as a Computer Scientist. My unit is in charge of ATM Swift Card and Key Tested Telex (K.T.T) wire transfer through bank to bank account (swift system). Several times in my computer your name and fund payment has been appearing as pending but for the fact that I would not like to sabotage the trust given to me to be in this position, that was why I keep calm. After a serious taught, I decided to contact you not minding the risk of sending this message across to you, because these top officials of these various banks can never tell you the truth about your money rather allow you to spend and pay all you have without getting anything in return. Now I am out to take this risk and make this transfer to your ATM Visa Card or your designated bank account if you will promise me of my Security, I will wire your fund without the knowledge of anybody or any top official in the bank as soon as I wire this funds through (SWIFT PROCESS), I will immediately run away from the bank and come up to meet you in your country, write me immediately on: (atmcardfile@onet.pl), my telephone +229-93477770.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam