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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
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.
- inlandrevenuedept1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department. Bureau of Consular Affairs" <jimjack763@gmail.com>
Reply-To: inlandrevenuedept1@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2014 14:13:22 +0100
Subject: Your unclaimed consignment will be return to Benin Republic
Government after 5days

U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department.
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington , DC 20520
Greeting from USA I.R.S,
Contact person:Dr. James E. Mark,
Email:(inlandrevenuedept1@hotmail.com)

Attention:

We write to inform you that your package with No.-35460021, Allocation
No: 674632 Password No: 339331, Pin Code No: 55674 and your
Certificate of Merit Payment No: 103, Released Code No: 0763;
Immediate Telex confirmation No:-1114433; Secret Code No: XXTN013. has
been in Customs facility custody waiting for resolutions of the
clearance to further the delivery to your delivery address by the
delivery Agent who came all the way from Africa.We have been waiting
for you to contact us regarding your consignment box which the agent
suppose to deliver to you which was on hold by USA Customs Department
and they are requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtain
from the origination of the consignment box before it will be released
from the Customs to the delivery agent to complete the delivery.

After the phone call we made on your behalf to the USA Customs
Authority and the Government of Benin Republic, it was resolved that
the delivery of your consignment to your address must be complete
within five (5) working days upon your compliance to our directives;
You should send the sum of $45.00 usd to obtain the needed
Ownership-clearance certificate from Benin Republic.

The clearance charges which was initially on the high price has been
cut down by the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the poor
economic situations that make it difficult for the middle class
citizens to meet up with the clearance of their entitlement. We will
upon the confirmation of your clearing charge assign our Diplomat
Agent (Mr.CHRIS PATTO) to travel to USA and collect your package and
proceed with the delivery.

Meanwhile you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon
contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong person after obtaining the
needed Ownership-clearance certificate from Benin Republic because
that is what the Customs here are waiting for .

1- Your Full Name:................
2- Your Delivery Address:............
3- Your Contact Telephone Number:........
4- Your Occupation:................
5- Your Identification (Passport number or ID Card number):.......

Once you notify us with the above information and the needed
Ownership-clearance certificate from Benin Republic, the USA Customs
will release your consignment to you and it will be delivered to you
by the agent, You can contact us with the following information,

Contact Person: Dr. James E. Mark,
Email: (usa_internal@manager.in.th)

You also advise to contact the delivery agent as well with the
delivery address of yours and his e-mail address is this below.

Name : Mr.CHRIS PATTO
E-mail:(inlandrevenuedept1@hotmail.com)

Note that you are expected to pay only $45.00 usd for
Ownership-clearance certificate and you are to pay it to Benin
Republic as the origination of the package in favor of Mr.Joe
Nnadili, as our accountant officer in Benin Republic Send the $45.00
usd through western union once you receive this mail with the
information below for immediate release of your package,

Receivers Name:====EZEOBODO STEPHEN
Country/City:=======Benin Republic
Test Question:=======what city
Answer: ===========Cotonou
Amount:===========$45.00.00usd
MTCN
Once you send the money to Benin Republic to this name , please try to
notify us with the MTCN so that we can contact oussou viwanou ulrich,N
for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your
Ownership-clearance certificate.

Note that any unclaimed consignment will be return to Benin Republic
Government after 5days.
So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives so that the
Customs will release your consignment.

Yours Sincerely
Dr. James E. Mark,
Commissioner of Internal
Revenue Service.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam