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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "clearance 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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "tax 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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- "westernunionagent22@barid.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +22998836885 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. David Peter" <cobranca@mediphacos.com>
Reply-To: <atmofficeauthoriza@foxmail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2015 01:42:52 -0700
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?Spam?=
Greetings from Western Union® Money Transfer Agent Location

Dear Valued Customer

Greetings from Western Union® Money Transfer Agent Location, EMS Post Office Cotonou Benin Republic, This is the second time we are notifying you about this said Compensation fund $3.5 Millions USD. After due vetting and evaluation of your file that was sent to us by the Benin Republic Government in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Benin.

This to inform you that Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Benin have order us to start remitting your fund to you through our service western union (BOA), the maximum amount you will be receiving per a day IS $5,000 USD starting from tomorrow until your total amount complete $3.5 Millions USD, be inform that before our bank proceed remitting the payment, you are required to pay clearance fee which is $93 dollars. you are advice to pay $93 dollars for Clearance fee of your fund, you cannot pickup your first payment until you pay $93 dollars for Clearance Certificate of your fund, below information to transfer the fee and get back to us enable you start picking up your payment everyday from us.

Receivers Name: Peter Moore
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Question: Land of?
Answer: Grace
Amount: $93 dollars
MTCN#................................
Sender's Name:......................

Be inform that they Presidency Department and Authority of the government with Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Benin order our corresponding bank BOA conjunction with (UBA) Bank to remit your fund to you $5,000.00 USD daily until your total fund complete 3.5 Millions.

The only tax fee you will pay is $93 USD for certification & legislation fees once you pay the fee you will receive your first payment within 24 hours we confirmed the money you sent, after that no other upfront fee involve and nothing like Anti-drug/money laundering etc, nothing like that, If there are other cost arises after this fee I will resend you the money or bear the incidental cost, now you should go ahead send the money forward payment information to me.

Be rest assured this is the only cost $93 USD once you sent the money your first payment $5,000.00 USD will be release to you immediately within 24 hours..

for you informations the fee is not for our office, the Clearance Certificate for Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Benin account to enable you start picking up your payment like others beneficiary from Benin here to your location.

Once you send the money you are advice to reconfirm your details to us as stated below, and immediately you will receive your first $5,000.00 USD payment from us with within 24 hours you provide to us payment slip of the tax fee and your details.

Your. Receiver---
Your. Country---
Your. City--
Your. Tel---
Your. Test question-----
Your. Answer-----------
Your.. Passport--
Your. Email Address---
Your. Password------

I am looking forward to hear from you with the payment information's.

Thanks for your understand.

Yours In Service,
Mr. David Peter
Manager of EMS Post Office
Cotonou Benin Republic
Email: westernunionagent22@barid.com
Tel: +229-98836885

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam