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. )
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.
- +2347015773545 (Nigeria, 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.
- welcomewesternuion@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From:
World Economic & Financial Forum Permanent Secretary <stanben01@yahoo.com>
Reply-To:
World Economic & Financial Forum Permanent Secretary <welcomewesternuion@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2015 14:24:22 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Are you ready to pick up this $5,000.00 sent today

Â Dear Sir / Madam,

We have been mandated by the World Economic and Financial Forum to wire your funds through Western union Money Transfer to avoid unnecessary delays, this instruction was given to us after deliberations with the World Financial Departments on how to overcome this deadly recession Worldwide, it was then resolved that paying debt owed to individuals, Companies, Organization, Corporate Bodies will help surmount this Financial crises.

By this deliberate decision, paying you through wire transfer will attract fees and charges, that's were the resolution to pay you through Western Union Money Transfer was initiated.

Are you ready to pick up this $5,000.00 sent today. We have concluded to effect your payment through western union $5,000.00 daily until the $6.8mUSD is completely transferred.

Meanwhile, Ms Susan Roland has sent through western union the sum of $5,000.00 in your
name today,So please contact the accredited Western union Director General to pick up your $5,000.00 USD:

Contact person: Mr Adams Williams.

Director General, Western Union, Presidential villa Federal republic of Nigeria.

Direct Line: +234 7015773545

respond with this email only.

E-mail:(welcomewesternuion@hotmail.co.uk)

Ask him to give you the MTCN, sender's name, test question and answer to pick up the $5,000.00USD Also you should send your information to him both phone number and address and also your I.D

Thanks

MS Joann Real.
World Economic & Financial Forum Permanent Secretary

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam