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:

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:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- +22994623535 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Rose William" <offifi4@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Rose William" <w.unio11@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2014 18:09:36 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Contact Western Union Office Call For Mtcn# of $6,000 /From Mrs.
Rose William (Treat Urgent Call us On :+229-94-623-535.)

Welcome to Western Union, phone:
Send Money Worldwide
www.westernunion.com
Western Union Money Transfer.
Address: No. 5 Western Avenue Cotonou,
West Africa, Republic Du' Benin

This is to notify you about the latest development concerning all your payments that are left in our custody which your were supposed to receive earlier last year 2013. Besides, you were given a bill of $80 in order to receive your payments of which we didnâ€™t hear from you for sometimes now.

Hence, our western union is now offering a special bonus to help all our customers that are having their payments in our custody due to of prices in other words, we are now requesting that you should only pay the sum of $40 only to receive your payments.

Besides, my dear these are the opportunity for you to comply and your funds shall be transfer to your designated address.

But remember that after (3 days) you did not make the payment then we will retrieve your transfers, so try to avoid this problem because this year is not like the past years ago.

Again after ( three days ) we will enter a new project for the year and that is the reason why we decided to help you before we enter into the new project.

So we advise you send only $40 today so that we will register and update your payments for you to start receiving your $6,000 daily as from today. Be advice that there is no time again for we to call anyÂ person on phone unless you will Call :+229-94-623-535.
Â
After the payment of $40 you will start receiving your money every day $6,000 through western union until your total amount of funds $985,000.00 U.S Dollars is fully paid to you. Below is the mtcn# numbers which you will use to pick up the first $6,000 But it will be update in few hours time once we receive the fee $40 from you.

Your Payment of $6000.00 USD DETAILS

Senders :...........John ChunMtcn#:...............783-931-3563 (But Not Ready Until You Pays The $40 Fee)
Question:...........Time
Answer:.............6hrs
Amount: :...........$6000.00

Donâ€™t expose this numbers to anybody else. You should send the $40 through western union money transfer with the written information below and email me back with the payment information once you do that.

SEND THE REQUIRED FEE TO THIS INFORMATION BELOW:

Receiver's Name:....... Ude Ebuka
City/Country:........Cotonou - Benin Republic.
Question:.............Honest
Answer:...............Trust
Amount:..............$40 dollars
Mtcn#: number:.......
Sender's Name:..............

The moment you do that, write out the payment information written on the payment slip, forward it back to us which will enable in confirming the payment you sent such as,

Note; this is the only payment you are required to make in this regards for every other fee have been waived by the Federal Ministry.

As soon as we confirm the fee today, we will immediately activate your mtcn# and notify you then you go and pick up your $6,000 today as stated. Please note that you need to go along with your passport ID or Drivers license when you need to pick up the transfer today okay.

Waiting on your urgent respond.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Rose WilliamTreat Urgent Call us on :+229-94-623-535.Western Union Cotonou-Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam