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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
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.
- +22968521067 (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.
- edith.patrick68@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Milton Priye <miltonpriye24@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Milton Priye <milton.priye@barid.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2015 16:10:58 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Your fund has been transferred and the paying bank is waiting for
you.

Attention: Sir,

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I am Dr.Milton Priye,I am director with a bank here in my country Republic of Benin,it is my pleasure to inform you that the sum of (USD$950,000) nine hundred and fifty thousand United States Dollars has just been transferred to one of our corresponding banks in your country for immediate payment to you.

The paying bank is now waiting for you to contact them with the back up legal documents for the said fund transfer so that they will remit your fund into your bank account.So you are advice to forward your full name, contact address and telephone to our Protocol officer in Republic of Benin,to enable her send to you the back up legal documents for the already transferred fund which you will be submitting to the paying bank to enable them release your fund to you.

You can reach the protocal officer Mrs. Edith Patrick using her email address ( edith.patrick68@gmail.com ) or telephone number +229 68 52 10 67.

Base on the above information's,you are advise then to co-operate with Mrs. Edith Patrick so that your fund transfer legal documents can be sent to you.

That is it for now and congratulations and a very properous new year in advance.

Dr.Milton Priye.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam