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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
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.
- +22968632521 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Reverend Father. Godwin Raymond" <izibizi@ecoplus.at>
Reply-To: <jamesgoodman@barid.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 22:31:11 +0300
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?***=20SPAM=3A?=
YOUR ATM CARD

The Fund Beneficiary

This is to inform you that the IMF just discovered a US$15.5 M owed to you in Africa through the IMF Central Data System and a part payment of US$4.8 Million has been approved to be paid to you through an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card.

I have registered the ATM CARD with the FedEx COMPANY as directed and the delivery will take off as soon as you contact the FEDEX COMPANY based on the agreement with the FedEx Director,James Goodman.

His Phone no is:(+229-6863-2521 and the only fee you will send to them is their delivery fee of $165 only. So contact and ask them for the payment information to send the $165 to them, MOST IMPORTANTLY:

re-confirm your current delivery address and contact him via this email address: (jamesgoodman@barid.com).The amount processed in the ATM Card isUS$4.8 Million and the PIN code is: {0608}.

You can contact me back on (rev.fathergodwin@barid.com) if you need anyfurther clarifications.

Thanks.
Reverend Father. Godwin Raymond
VERTRAULICHKEIT: Diese Nachricht ist ausschlieÃŸlich fÃ¼r die-/denjenige/n bestimmt, an den sie adressiert ist und kann vertrauliche Informationen enthalten. Falls Sie nicht der Adressat dieser Nachricht sind, weisen wir Sie darauf hin, dass die unberechtigte Weitergabe oder Verwendung sowie das unberechtigte Verteilen oder Kopieren dieser Nachricht strikt untersagt ist. Falls Sie diese Nachricht irrtÃ¼mlich erhalten haben, vernichten Sie sie bitte sofort.

CONFIDENTIALITY: This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that any dissemination, distribution, use or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please destroy this message immediately.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam