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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- carunitsection@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- extension 21 terminal 5 or contact email address: carunitsection@aol.com to release this package directly to you immediately. yours (Aol; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Department of Homeland Security <bodega@aguapen.com.ec>
Reply-To: Micheal Churchman <carunitsection@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 00:50:44 -0500 (ECT)
Subject: CONFIRM THIS INFORMATION TO THIS OFFICE NOW TO THIS EMAIL
carunitsection@aol.com NOW.

Office of Foreign Asset Control [OFAC]
USA Treasury Department
State of New York
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017

CONFIRM THIS INFORMATION TO THIS OFFICE NOW.

Please sir, did you instruct Mrs.Maria T. Agustin-El-zein from New York,united states and Mr.Franklin White of Natwest Bank London UK to come to the Cargo Unit Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Airport code: ORD 10000 West O'Hare Chicago, IL 60666 USA to receive your Inheritance package reg #: GDS5437ACK valued at US$8.5 Million.

Below is the house address of your representative Mrs. Maria T. Agustin-El-zein provide to the Chicago O'Hare International Airport,Cargo Unit accredited courier company to deliver your
Inheritance package reg #: GDS5437ACK to No;1334 wall street, New York 10004 USA.

Please get back to us now if you really instructed her to receive your Inheritance package reg #:GDS5437ACK and she is trying to pay the Cargo Unit Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Airport accredited courier company for Inheritance package reg #: GDS5437ACK delivery and
insurance charges.

If on the other hand you never authorized such, Please call storage officer Micheal Churchman, on (773) 455-7017 Extension 21 terminal 5 or contact Email address: carunitsection@aol.com to release this package directly to you immediately.

Yours faithfully,

MS.Suzanne Spaulding
Deputy Under Secretary
Department of Homeland Security
Email: us.hmls.org.usa@usa.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam