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:
- "insurance fee " (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "processing fee" (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)
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.
- +22998099378 (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.
- rdonaroberto@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Dona Roterto <useo98@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Dona Roterto <rdonaroberto@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 10:54:21 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ATTN: YOUR ATM CARD VALUE $3.6 MILLION USD IS READY FOR
DISBURSEMENT,

Â ATTN: YOUR ATM CARD VALUE $3.6 MILLION USD IS READY FOR DISBURSEMENT,

This is to acknowledge the receipt of the ATM card order, in respect with the provision act of degree 114 of the 1999 constitution; I am directed to inform you that your payment verification is confirmed. Therefore, we write to inform you that arrangement is in progress to effect your ATM payment as soon as possible and in our bid to transparency. We just concluded a meeting with the entire Payment Committee of The inter switch technology, and at this conclusion we had to contact you right away. Following your swift response to the email, we had to write you in other to fully enlighten you on the accurate step to take, for you to gain full possession to the ATM card .

It,s a pleasure to inform you that ATM Card Number: 7298463109032014 has been approved and issued to you . Your Personal Identification Number is not known,the ATM Card Value is $3.6M USD Only. You are allowed to withdrawal value of $9,000.00 is permitted per Day, from any ATM Center of your choice in any part of the world.

The ATM offers a convenient secure and widely acceptable .At the ATM you can do the Following.

CASH WITHDRAWAL:
BALANCE ENQUIRY:
PIN CHANGE:
MINI STATEMENT(LAST 10 TRANSACTIONS)
FUNDS TRANSFER (BETWEEN CARD HOLDERS)
BILL PAYMENT*
AIRTIME PURCHASE

We have securely sealed and package your ATM-CARD for security reason which makes it impossible for any one to view it, until its been delivered to you, upon option of delivery chosen by you to be fully insured by Nicon Insurance Corporation upon payment confirmation of your delivery charges.

You are requested to choose from the options listed below your choice and cost of delivery.
To enable us dispatch your ATM parcel, there are different express channels for delivery. kindly see below the charges required to pay including insurance fee added and choose the one that is most convenient to you..

3rd CLASS AMS DELIVERY---- 72HOURS DELIVERY

Mailing $23
Insurance $35
Doc Processing fee $42
TOTAL $100

2nd CLASS AMS DELIVERY---- 48HOURS DELIVERY
Mailing $30
Insurance $49
Doc Processing fee $51
TOTAL $130

1st CLASS AMS DELIVERY---- 24HOURS DELIVERY
Mailing $30
Insurance $70
Document Processing fee $85
TOTAL $185

YOU ADVICE TO GO TO WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM AND MAKE THE PAYMENT TO OUR AGENT NAME USING YOUR CHOICE OF DELIVERY AS STATED.

RECEIVER'S NAME======Edwin Mokwe
COUNTRY==============Benin Republic
CITY=================Cotonou
ZIP CODE=============00229
QUESTION============When
ANSWER==============today
AMOUNT DEPENDS ON YOUR CHOICE OF DELIVERY LISTED BELLOW
SENDER'S NAME======
MTCN==============

PAYMENT TERMS: We do not accept cash on delivery (COD)proposal for such package Air sure charge for onward delivery must be paid through our choice of service to our office as instructed within a period of five working days after the receipt of this mail, due make urgent contact upon receipt of this mail on the option you have choose.

NOTE: Your ATM is protected by a hard cover insurance policy, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount. This means that the above charges cannot be deducted from the ATM-CARD and hence must be provided by you because you are an international ATM card value owner, before the ATM is deliver to you.

This is in accordance with section (1999) of the national act as adopted in 1998 and amended on 3rd July 2002 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect and to avoid misappropriation of the ATM card. Be informed that delivery will be made to your address after the confirmation of this payment for delivery, as you know that the delivery fee receipt will be attach to your payment delivery documents to avoid being delayed.

Send your response to us immediately to indicate your option of delivery within 24hrs, you only have 5 days to claim this ATM CARD and after this period, your CARD will be deemed to have been forfeited by you .Due get back to us with the Option that best suit you,

NOTE: NO DEDUCTION OF FEE, IF ASKED YOU WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE FROM OUR DESK IF YOU REQUEST FOR DEDUCTION YOU STAND TO FORFEIT YOUR ATM GRANT CASH,BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DEDUCTION IS NOT POSSIBLE.YOU ARE ADVISED TO SELECT FROM THE OPTIONS OF DELIVERY AND RESPOND BACK WITH THE PAYMENT DETAILS OF YOUR CHOICE.

Treat very urgently as we also remind you that your ATM Card is ready for disbursement .

Congratulations.

Regards
Dona Roberto
Telephone: +229-9809-9378
Email (rdonaroberto@yahoo.com.hk)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam