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:
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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.
- +22998227496 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Ruth Harper <officefls220@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mrs Ruth Harper <dhl-customer-service@universitarios.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 12:07:45 +0900 (JST)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?R29vZCBuZXdzLiB5b3VyIHBheW1lbnQgaGF2ZSBiZWVuIHJlbGVhc2UgdG8g?=
=?utf-8?B?YmUgZGVsaXZlcnku4oCPIA==?=

Attention My Dear
Â
I Just received na email from the of Manager of Federal Reserve Bank that your conpersation funds has been activated into ATM CARD to avoid expiration have been returned to FOREIGN DELIVERY SECTION dhl due to wrong address provided, the Manager have help paid for the delivery since it has 3 day left to expiration and when it expires, the funds will go into Government investment.
Â
so you have to contact DHL Company with your Full Contact information so that they will deliver your package to your designated address without any further delay, he also registered it as an African cloth, but it valued sum of $800,000.00. They need your full information for the delivery to your address. Please don't fail to reconfirm your current address to the DHL FOREIGN DELIVERY SECTION including phone number for easy communication because I will not be reached till June 20th, 2016. Your PIN code of the ATM CARD is in the parcel do not dispose the information to them only that is your family treasure.
Â
For confirmation to DHL Call 00229 9822 7496.Mr. Frank Larry

Secondly, the only money you are to pay is DHL Company demur-rage fee which is $35 today.he did not pay for the security keeping fees, they refused for they reason is that they do not know when you ill be contacting them because of the demurrage might been increased. I was told by Manager that their keeping fee per day is $35 and he deposited it yesterday and you are giving a limited time to send application for the delivery of your package and please be advised that you are to send information to dhl office FOREIGN DELIVERY SECTION and they will advice you where you will send the payment and when you receiver your Â DELIVERY SECTION.

Mrs. Ruth Harper

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam