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:
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "westernunion21@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "westernunion21@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: western union office <officewestern20@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: western union office <westernunion21@qq.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 14:29:36 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: 2014 SCAM VICTIM'S COMPENSATION FUNDS CONTACT E-MAIL
ADDRESS:westernunion21@qq.com

Â WEST AFRICA,COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.EMAIL:( westernunion21@qq.com)www.westernunion.comPHONE:Â +229 68 74 83 04
Attention: E-mail Address Owner
RE: 2014 SCAM VICTIM'S COMPENSATION FROM THE IMF/ ECO-WAS / UNITED NATIONS CONTACT E-MAIL ADDRESS: westernunion21@qq.comThe International Monetary Fund (IMF)/ ECO-WAS / UNITED NATIONS is compensating all the Scam victims and your email address was found in the scam victim's list for this fiscal year 2014. This Western UnionÂ® office has been mandated by the IMF / ECO-WAS / UNITED NATIONS Â to transfer your compensation to you via Western UnionÂ® Money Transfer.
However, we have concluded to affect your own payment through Western UnionÂ® Money Transfer, $5000.00 us dollars, daily until the total sum of (Two millions Seven hundred thousand United State Dollars ( USD$2.700.000.00USD) is completely transferred to you. We can not be able to send the payment with your email address alone; thereby we need your information as to where we will be sending the funds, such as;
Receiver'Name:............
Address:..............
Country:..............
Phone number:.....................
Attached copy of your Identification

Bellow is the Western Union Contact information:
Contact Name: Dr.Kelvin Morrison Contact E-mail:(westernunion21@qq.com)Phone:+229 68 74 83 04 Western Union Agent. Cotonou, Benin.
With your full details information stated above to enable them, commence transfer of your fund immediately with out any further delay as soon as you forward them your full receiverâ€™s information.
Yours Faithful
Mrs Nekisha Murphy

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam