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:
- "clearance 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. )
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.
- +447031920076 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- nius74@yahoo.es (Yahoo, Spain; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
<mahleniu74@yahoo.es>
Reply-To: mahlenius74@yahoo.es
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 22:07:02 -0500
Subject: TRANSFER UPDATE VALUED USD$10,500,000.00

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting and Investigations Division
=

From: Mrs.Inga-Britt Ahlenius
..............................................
=

=

=

=

=

This is to inform you that I came to London , after series of complains fr=
om the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarcti=
ca, South America and the United States of America respectively, against th=
e Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of =
scam activities going on in these two nations.
=

=

Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, We are wo=
rking in collaborations with the IMF here in London and have decided to wai=
ve away all your
clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Barclays Bank London to Effect th=
e payment of your compensation of an amount of $10.5M approved by both the =
British government and the UN into your account Via telephone Banking witho=
ut any delay. The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund in
your account is your Notarization fee to the UN.
=

Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some=
top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in your fund =
and they are working in collaboration with One Mr. Richard Graves from USA =
to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal accoun=
t.
=

get back to us with your baking information,
=

Full Names:
Country:
Direct Number:
Direct Fax : =

Bank Name:
Bank Address:
Bank Account Number:
Routing Number:
Swift Code:
=

I have a very limited time to stay in London so I would like you to urgent=
ly respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to confirm =
your fund in your account within the next 72 hours.
=

For oral discussion, call me on this number +44 7031920076 or email: mahle=
nius74@yahoo.es me as soon as you received this email =

=

=

Sincerely yours,
=

=

Mrs. Inga-Britt Ahlenius.
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight
CELL PHONE +44 7031920076=20

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam