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:
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- western2288888union3payment@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- thomas norman with this email address (western2288888union3payment@yahoo.com).website;https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderstatus.asp? (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.seumasfih" <seumasfih@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: western8888union@excite.co.uk
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2014 03:37:00 +0600
Subject: Message From Western Union Your First Payment $5,000.00 USD Approved
today

--
Good Day,

We are here to let you know that your total fund of $700,000.00 USD is
here in western union since and we are instructed to be sending it to you
$5000 USD only everyday until the total fund is completely transfer to
you. And now your first payment has been sent this morning by Chinaka Nze
and i want you to contact the western union manager immediately you pick
the $5000 USD only, so that he Will release another payment to you.

once you pick up the first payment and email
REV THOMAS NORMAN with this Email address
(western2288888union3payment@yahoo.com).website;https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global,

I swear to God almighty Father before and am here to swear again that
nothing will stop you to start receiving your daily payment after this $39
USD. if i fail to start sending you your daily payment of $5000 USD within
2hours after you send the $39 usd as i promise I will send you money back
to you,i cannot fail you,i promise you. don't fear as soon as you send the
$39 USD today please leave the rest to me and see if iam lie to you.If i
fail let Almighty God take the Life of My Father, i can not use my God
swear because of $5000 USD,

How can i swear against my God because of this FUND,but is to show you
that what iam telling you the truth.so please try to understand me by
sending this $39 usd is big amount but is too small for the amount you
have to receive within 5hours okay.

I want you to follow your PAYMENT code which follow bellow,and wish is
given to you by the high court of Benin and the code is(Be0082FGN) And I
want you to keep this code,because this code will ensure you and Alert you
in any day you receive a scam e-mail from this country.

Because ,I was calling your telephone number to give you the information
through phone but you did not pick up my calls through out yesterday
morning. Now,I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you
will pick up the $5000 USD to enable us send another $5,000.00 today as
you know we will be sending you only $5,000.00 usd per day.

Here is the payment of the first $5000 USD installation payment in your
name but you will not have text question and answer until you pay for this
transferring charges, you are free to track the payment with our website
as giving below to see that Available for pick up by receiver and after
you have track it, go follow the up the directive there after.

ALL THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED ABOUT THIS TRANSFER ARE ALL PAID AND BE
INFORMED THAT AFTER THIS FEE, DO NOT PAY FOR ANY THING IN THIS OFFICES
AGAIN BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PAID FOR AND IF ANY FEE IS DEMANDED,GET
IN TOUCH WITH ME BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE IS REMAINING EXCEPT THIS REMAINING
BALANCE FEE OF $39USD ONLY I am giving you 100% guarantee that as soon as
this payment is made in next 3hours time today been 6th september 2014,you
will not pay for any other thing again until you receive your PAYMENT.

( western8888union@excite.co.uk)
Contact us immediately below.
www.westernunion.com
So you are to re-confirm to them the below information:
Your. Receiver-
Your. Country-
Your. City--
Your. Tel---
Your. Test question-
Your. Answer--
Your.. Passport--
Your. Email ID--
Your. Password-

After you have tracking it and see that it is available in your name,Go
ahead and send the $39 USD to enable us give you the remaining
information, so that you can pick up the first $5,000.00 send it through
WESTERN UNION our office ONLY Transfer with the information below:

RECEIVER'S NAME:OBI LOKE
COUNTRY/CITY: COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC
TEXT QUESTION:HOW LONG?
ANSWER: TODAY
AMOUNT:$39 .00 ONLY
SENDER NAME__________
MTCN___________

Forward the payment control number, sender name and other information
after sending it to enable us pick up the money in our office here and
then, we can give you Text question and Text answer which you can use to
pick up this first payment$5,000.00.

YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.
REV THOMAS NORMAN.
Remittance Dept.
Western Union Constituency

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam