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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- +22968624909 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Comfort Marcelo <officef62@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mrs Comfort Marcelo <comfortmarcelo111@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2015 10:49:37 +0900 (JST)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?UkU6IENhbGwgbWUgb24gdGhpcyBudW1iZXIgZm9yIG1vcmUgaW5mbzogKzIy?=
=?utf-8?B?OSA2ODYyNDkwOeKAj+KAjw==?=

My good friend,

I am Mrs.
Comfort Marcelo, the Chair holder in charge of Treasury Department,
International wire transfers of Benin Republic Federal Ministry of
Finance.Â This is to inform you that your fund was brought to my desk
because the director & management of the WESTERN UNION &
MONEYGRAM transfer have declared to divert your fund to the government
treasury account just because you can not pay the wire transfer fee.

In
reasoning wisely to this complain I told them to wait until I hear from
you so that I will know the reason why you decide to reject such amount
of money $3.5Million USD which is your rightful & legal overdue
inheritance payment just because of transfer fee.

The reason why I
sent this email to you is because its your sweat and for this reason
you still have this last chance to claim your fund if you can send
$198.00 USD today because I have already arranged your wires ready for
its daily wires to you but failing to do this, I will allow them to have
power over your fund and I am very sorry if you failed as this is the
last chance.

Therefore, send the $198.00 USD immediately you
receive this email today and email your full name and address to me if
you want your $3.5Million USD be send to you by western union OR Money
gram transfer but the maximum amount officially allow for it per day
wire to you is $8,500.00 USD per day until you receive your complete
$3.5Million USD
from here.

The second option is for you to
send me the full detail of your bank account if you want your fund to be
fully transfer by direct bank to bank wire transfer to your account at
once. After you have sent the $198.00 USD and email me the MTCN numbers, you
are to indicate your wish to receive your funds as I have stated above
and the funds will be released to you without any hitch.

Here is
the western union or money gram information in the name of my accountant
to avoid delay in receiving your fund and remember that I have done my
best for you and I will make sure that your wire will begin to be
released to you from the moment you sent this $198.00 USD.

Send the $198.00 USD now and send me email with the western union MTCN or money gram
reference numbers when you send the money , you can as well call me on
this number +229-6862 4909 when you have sent the money now okay .

RECEIVER NAME:....
COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY :............... COTONOU .
TEST QUESTION:....IN GOD
TEST ANSWER:......WE TRUST.
AMOUNT â€¦â€¦$198.00 USD

Send it and email the MTCN control number, amount sent, name and address of sender to me for easy collection.

Thanks.

Mrs. Comfort Marcelo
Treasury Department, International
Wire Transfers, Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic.
Telephone: +229-6862 4909

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam