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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +22968771904 (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.
- internal.revenueservice@mail.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From:
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DEPARTMENT <officefill87@studentvillage.co.za>
Reply-To:
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DEPARTMENT <internal.revenueservice@mail.ru>
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 13:21:37 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: CALL THE AGENT (315) 608 7642 CONSIGNING YOUR PACKAGE DELIVERY THE
CODE (2661428)

Â U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department.
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington , DC 20520
Greeting from USA I.R.S,
Contact person: Mr. Douglas Shulman
Telephone Number: +22968771904
Email: ( internal.revenueservice@mail.ru )

Attention: ,

We write to inform you that your package with reference number (2661428) which is your sum of $1.3,000.000.00 ( ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) has been released by Homeland Security Service under our order and they are waiting for resolutions of the claiming Of Ownership Certificate for them to release the package fully to you and to further the delivery to your destination delivery home address by the United State Postal Service Agent.

After the phone call we made on your behalf today to the USA Homeland Security Service and to the Government of Benin Republic, it was resolved that the delivery of your package to your home address must be complete within (3) working days upon your compliance to our directives; You should send the sum of $65.00 usd to obtain the needed Claiming Of Ownership Certificate from Benin Republic.

The Claiming Of Ownership Certificate which is initially on the high price has been cut down by the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the poor economic situations that make it difficult for the middle class citizens to meet up with the clearance of their entitlement. We will upon the confirmation of your Claiming Of Ownership Certificate we shall assign the United State Postal Service Agent to collect your package of $1.3 Million and proceed with the delivery to your address.

All you have to do is immediately contact Mr.Jimmy Ray via E-mail for instructions obtain your Ownership Certificate and send it to New York City police Department to enable them release the Agent with your consignment box, Kindly look below to find appropriate contact information:

CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Mr. Jimmy Ray
Telephone== (315) 608 7642
Email: ( jimmyray@yeah.net )

Meanwhile you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong person after obtaining the needed Claiming Of Ownership Certificate from Benin Republic because that is what the Homeland Security Service here are waiting for .

1- Your Full Name:
2- Your Delivery Home Address:
3- Your Contact Telephone Number:
4- Your Occupation:
5- Your Identification (Passport number or ID Card number):

Once you notify us with the above information and the needed Claiming Of Ownership Certificate from Benin Republic, the USA Homeland Security Service will release your Package to you and it will be delivered to you by the Agent of (U.S.P.S), You can contact us with the following information,

Note that you are expected to pay only $65.00 usd for the Claiming Of Ownership Certificate and you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination of the package in favor of Mr. Kelly Omata as an accountant officer in Benin Republic Send the $65.00 usd through western union once you receive this mail with the information below for immediate release of your package,

Receivers Name:==== Kelly Omata
Country=============== Benin Republic
City:======= Cotonou
Test Question:======= When
Answer: =========== Now
Amount:=========== $65.00 usd

Once you send the money to Benin Republic to this name , please try to notify us with the MTCN so that we can contact Mr. Kelly Omata for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your Claiming Of Ownership Certificate. Note that any unclaimed consignment will be return to Benin Republic Government after 7days. So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives so that the Homeland Security Service will release your package.

Yours Sincerely
Mr.Douglas Shulman
Telephone Number: +22968771904
Respected Mr.Douglas Shulman!
Email: ( internal.revenueservice@mail.ru )

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam