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:

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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "info@eecobankoffice.tk" (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.
- +22999204920 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: ECO BANK <info@officedesk.tk>
Reply-To: info@eecobankoffice.tk
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:19:53 +0100
Subject: BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THIS BANK NEEDED YOUR URGENT RESPOND....Lastly
advice on this

ECO FINACIAL BANK PLC
Western Union
Send Money Worldwide

Foreign operation manager Mr. Frank Ashley

Hello Dear:

What is going? because I know how many times I sent you this email and my
questions today is that do you still need your fund? And I need a honest
answered from you all you have to do is to get back to me, I don’t know why
you have never get back to me but the best option is for you to back
because After our executive meeting yesterday with our board of directors
in this bank we come into conclusion that our board of directors has
permitted you to part of the total fee which will allow you to pay only $45
to complete the balance once you confirm your first payment today.

So if everything is OK and if you are alive I want you to get back to me,
having say that, you should know how far we have gone already, and at least
that should have given you more confident in me that I want you to receive
your payment. So my dear, your MTCN is available to pick up by you and I
can assure you of that, I can bet you of this and you can see what am
saying to you if only you can believe me and see what am talking about, you
can easily pick up $5000 today from your fund without doubt once you pay
$45 today.

I HEREBY TO POWER TO YOU AGREEMENT OATH FOR THIS SO THAT YOU WILL CONFIRM
THAT WHAT I AM SAYING NOW IS NOTHING BUT TRUTH OK.

1. Once you send this fee to MARCEL OWURAH and in the same day you did
not pick up your first payment of $5000 dollars may it not be well with me
Frank.

2. Again there is no other fee you are to send after this fee, if any
occurred let me Frank die

3. Finally there will be no story or delay in your MTCN release okay

So note that you are only to pay $45 to receive your first payment today so
you are entitle to receive your first payment today if you want and do send
the money today as well, Honestly note that this is last you have to pay is
this $45 to receive your first payment today and nothing more. this will
only taken 45minutes to happen if you send this today.

RECEIVER NAME:.........MARCEL OWURAH
COUNTRY:...........BENIN REPUBLIC .
CITY :................COTONOU.
TEST QUESTION:........IN GOD
TEST ANSWER:.......WE TRUST.
AMOUNT:.........$45, USD

I wait for your advice ASAP.

We await for your urgent email with the payment information.

THANKS FOR OUR PATRONAGE,
YOURS SINCERELY
MR.FRANK ASHLEY
ECO BANK FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER WESTERN UNION OFFICE
EMAIL; info@eecobankoffice.tk
Tell: +229-99-204-920.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam