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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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: Charles Flanagan <Charlesflanagan@arion.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Charles Flanagan <charlesfllanagan@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 13:38:56 +0900 (JST)
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?Confirm_To_Avoid_Wrong_Transfer_As_We_Hope_The_Transfer_?=
=?utf-8?Q?Hits_Into_Your_=C2=ADAccount_Within_The_Next_Forty_Eight_Hours?=

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SENATE HOUSE UPPER CHAMBERS MONTGOMERY
ALABAMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ATTN: FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) USA

This notification is from International Monetary Funds. My name is Dr.Charles Flanagan. I am the Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF). I am writing on behalf of (IMF) just to let you know that the formal arrangement to get you your funds worth US$1.3 million was not cleared because of difficulties with authorities. Your Funds delivery arrangement would not be allowed by any of such companies mention bellow (Western Union Money Transfer, Money-Gram Money Transfer or Courier Delivery Company). The International Monetary Fund and Lawyer's Chamber have ruled-out those companies because of their incompetence and illegibility to people after collecting fees from them. The arrangements with such companies have failed due to difficulties with authorities on getting you the consignment through any of such three means stated earlier. Please, kindly stop any cooperation or conversation with them to avoid been scammed as they will not send you any
thing in return. They are not any more in-charge of your consignment box because your funds is not any more in their control. Please for your own good, quit contact with any western union/Money-Gram/Diplomatic/Courier agent(s) or offices that might claim to be in possession of your long awaited overdue funds.

We have booked the payment assignment with Federal Reserve Bank here in USA to start depositing the funds on your account. Due to the large amount, the International Monetary Funds & Lawyer's Chamber have arranged to pay you the total funds with assignment of Federal Reserve Bank here in USA whom will work it out together with WORLD BANK GROUP to ensure that you have the total funds on your account by receiving US$10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Dollars) on each payment. As of now, you are not certified to have the total funds into your account because of the large amount, hence, you are going to be receiving US$10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Dollars) on each transfer. I would like it to be sent to your bank account in amounts of US$10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Dollars) in each deposit as it will help to avoid all forms of difficulties with the authorities. We have now made contact with Federal Reserve Bank and they told us that the payment
will start as soon as possible after renewing the payment file of your funds. The cost to renew your payment file is only $85 after that we shall obtain the DEPOSIT FORM to get the fund to your account.

Meanwhile, the $85 is the only cost you will bear to renew the payment file to enable us obtain CENTRAL BANK DEPOSIT FORM to have the fund transfer into your account. Each transfer will clear into your account in 48 hours. Remember that you will receive US$10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Dollars) daily until you are paid in full, so try and send the $85 once you get this email. The first payment of US$10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Dollars)

Please reconfirm your full Banking Details to avoid wrong Transfer Such as:

Mobile Phone Number:
Direct telephone Number:
Bank Name:
Bank Address:
Account Number:
Account Name:
Routing Number:

BELOW IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO SEND $85 BY WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM HERE IN USA

Receiver's Name: VERA ANDERSON
Address: Montgomery, Alabama USA
Text Question: Love
Text Answer: Lead
Amount: $85
Sender's Name:
MTCN Number:

Regards,
Dr.Charles Flanagan
Managing Director
International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Anti-fraud resources:

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