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. )
- "remmitance department" (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)
- "remmitance department" (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.
- +22967917242 (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.
- wu.dailypaymentoffice.bj@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: western union benin bouns 2014 <agosujames@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To:
western union benin bouns 2014 <wu.dailypaymentoffice.bj@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 08:25:44 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?_From_Chairman_Committee_December_Bonus_Payme?=
=?UTF-8?Q?nt_Western_Union_Head_Office_Benin_Republic=E2=80=8F=E2=80=8E?=

Welcome to the western union Cotonou Benin Republic.
274 Tokpa Market Raod FOREIGN REMMITANCE DEPARTMENT
02 BP 581 RUE TUNDE DE JERICO COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC
Director Name: Mr Paul Amechi,Cell Phone: +229-67917242

Attention, owner of this email address.

This Message Is From Western Union To The Owner Of This E-mail, How Are You Today, I Write To Inform You That We Have Already Sent You USD4,000.00 Dollars Through Western Union As We Have Been Given The Mandate To Transfer Your Full Compensation Payment Total Sum Of US$700 000.00,Via Western Union As Instructed By Our Government.

I Was Calling Your Telephone Number To Give You The Information Through Phone But You Did Not Pick Up My Calls Throughout That Yesterday Even This Morning. Now I Decided To Email You The MTCN And Sender's Name So That You Will Pick Up ThisUSD $4,000.00 To Enable Us Send Another Today As You Know We Will Be Sending You Only USD$4,000.00 Per Daily. Please Run To Western Union To Pick Up The USD$4,000.00 And Call Me Back To Send You Another Payment Today.

Direct Phone Line Is: +229-67917242 ,
Manager Mr Paul Amechi
Email: ( wu.dailypaymentoffice.bj@gmail.com )

Here Is The Western Union Information To Pick Up The Money:
Sender== Prosper Honvou
(M.T.C.N)Â 266-686-9Â821
Question== 2014
Answer=====BOUNS
Amount=$4,000

MEANWHILE YOU ARE REQUIRE TO SEND US THE TRANSFERRING FEE WHICH IS $53 USD FOR THE WHOLE TRANSFER CHARGES, THAT WE HAVE ALREADY REMITTED TO YOUR NAME, SO WITHOUT THE TRANSFER FEE YOU CAN NOT PICK THE MONEY FOR IT'S ON HOLD AND THE M T C N CANNOT BE RELEASED TO YOU UNTIL YOU SEND THE TRANSFER FEE, THAT IS AN INSTRUCTION FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (FMF)please Email Me Your Direct Telephone Number Because I Need To Be Calling You Once We Send Any Payment For These
Information's.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE CHARGE SO THAT YOUR FIRST PAYMENT WILL BE RELEASE TO YOU FOR ANOTHER TO BE SENT IMMEDIATELY.

Receive Name: Paul Amechi
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Text Q: How Long
Answer: 2Hours.
Amount:$53.00
Senders Name::
m t c n Number::

Be advice that $53 renewing file is compulsory as they told me that is the only money you will pay until you receive your payment completely.

Regards
Mr. Paul Amechi.
>From Chairman Committee December Bonus Payment Western Union Head Office.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam