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. )
- "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. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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: "Mr.Rasheed Olaoluwa," <g.maletta@alice.it>
Reply-To: unitedbankafrica@foxmail.com
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2015 16:43:05 +0100 (CET)
Subject: YOUR ONLINE BANKING ACCOUNT
HASBEENCREDITEDINYOURFAVOR/HappyNewYear2015.

I am hereby writing to inform you that the federal government of Benin
is keen and very determined to pay your overdue debts, this is not a
fluke, I would not want you to loose this fund out of ignorance and
the federal government of Benin has today afternoon deposit your
inheritance $16.5 Million united state dollars with United Bank For
Africa. The government had a clear mandate to open an account in your
name with the bank and set up an on-line transfer that you will use to
transfer the funds into your personal account.

However, the government deposited your funds to United Bank For
Africa. This bank has finally opened an account in your name. Be
advice that the bank has already created on-line transfer with the
account that opened in your favor this afternoon. And the $16.5
Million has been transferred to the account that our bank open in your
favor. The on-line banking account details are follows.

Welcome! To - U.B.A Online Plc Secure Account Page
Account Name

Account Type
Activate

Online Banking Account
Created Opened

Account Balance
2014-01-8
$16.5 Million
Account Number

U.B.A Sort Code
0020578055

1022-03-8733
Country

Name Of bank
International Money Transfer
Input

Swift Code PNBPUS33
Account Number 0020578055
Please Enter:
Transfer CODE TRANS-ID:
Bank Name :
Amount : Routing Number: Swift Code: Transfer PIN:

The bank did not charge you any fee. You need to obtain a Access
Transfer Code, For your information, you will be able to start
accessing your online banking account as soon as you obtain this
code.You are to pay $59 dollars to obtain the Access Transfer Code.
Here is information on how to send the fee through western union.or
money gram money transfer office.

Receiver's name...CHRIS DIBOR
Country.. Benin Republic
City.. Cotonou
Text Question..WHEN
Text Answer...TODAY
Amount $59.00
MTCN....
Sender...

Provide us with the MTCN and sender's name once payment is made. The
bank will issue Access transfer code as soon as we confirm payment
details.
Mr.Rasheed Olaoluwa,
HEAD OF OPERATION MANAGER
managing director, United Bank For Africa Plc

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam