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:
- "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. )
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.
- +22999303962 (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.
- wuniontransfer@126.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: western union <anthonyobi@ciudad.com.ar>
Reply-To: western union <wuniontransfer@126.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 05:57:31 -0300 (ART)
Subject: YOUR FRIST PAYMENT MTCN NUMBER OF $5,000 HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU
#1100266111

Good day, Please we need your current home address and telephone number to enable us to start sending your USD $950,000.00 to you as we are instructed by IMF to be sending you $5000.00 each day till the whole amount USD $950,000.00.,Now we need your full information

Call Mr. Don William, now and ask him to give you MTCN and every other information you need to pick up your $5000.00 today. Here is what he may require from you.

Your Receiver name--------------
Your Country--------------------
Your City-----------------------
Your Tell-----------------------
Your Test Question--------------
Your Test Answer----------------
Your Id-------------------------

Forward the information here( wuniontransfer@126.com ) Or Call Mr Don William
On tele phone :+229-9930-3962
Thanks
MR.JOHN DAVID,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam