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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: PETERSON TONY <gebrailubah@gmail.com>
Reply-To: PETERSON TONY <atmdepartment01@live.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 04:16:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?WW91ciAkNDYsIE1pbGxpb24gVVMgRG9sbGFycyBQYXltZW50IGluIEFUTSBN?=
=?utf-8?B?YXN0ZXIgQ2FyZOKAjyA=?=

Attn: Dear,

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed at the course of your transaction with some government and claimed government officials. Based on the outcome of the last meeting held with the Benin government and the officials of the United Nation Organization, UNO and international monitoring fund, IMF, we have been instructed to transfer your funds through ATM Gold Master Card.

This money has been made available which will be cashed in an automated teller machine and would be cashed through issuance of inters witch ATM Card system. We have authorized the Bank, which was nominated to carry out the issuance of your ATM Gold Master Card never to delay in shipping the Gold Master card to you.

I wish to use this medium to inform you that your contract/inheritance payment of your USD$46,000,000.00 (Forty Six Million United States Dollars) from Bank Of Africa have been released and approved for onward transfer to you via an ATM Gold Master Card which you will use to withdraw your $46,000,000.00 US Dollars in any ATM service machine in any part of the world, but the maximum withdraw from this ATM Card is USD$20,000 (Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) per day.

You are therefore advice to respond back with your information where to send your ATM Gold Master Card to you.

Tell Miss. Pamela Collins, that you received a message from Bank Of Africa managing director Mr. Phillips Oduoza instructing him to send you the ATM Card and pin number which you will use to withdraw your US$46 Million United States Dollars in any ATM service machine in any part of the world also send her your direct phone number and contact address where you want your Master Card to be send.

I have forwarded instruction to the Customer Care Department Miss. Pamela Collins of the bank on your behalf to look into your file as soon as you contact her without delay.

We are very sorry for the plight you have gone through in the past.
Thank for adhering to this instruction and once again accept our apologies.

Regards

Mr. Phillips Oduoza

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam