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. )
- "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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "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.
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.
- +22967072194 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.AKU JAMES," <simonabarcella@alice.it>
Reply-To: imf.office999@mail.ru
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2015 17:28:23 +0100 (CET)
Subject: We await for your urgent email with the payment information
included the MTCN. Call +229-67072194 for further information's

Send Money Worldwide
Address; St, Peter & Paul
Road Cotonou Benin Rep.

Attention

We hereby wish to notify you of your payment inheritance funds of
US$1,600,000.00 from International Monetary Fund (IMF) that is credited to file
KTU/9023118308: Your email was received requesting the transfer of your funds.
Yes it was with this office and we will commence with the transfer as soon as
the below requirement is meet up with. The requirements will enable us commence
with the transfer of your funds to you, we will be making a daily transfer of
$5,000.00 per day to you till the total funds are completely transferred to
you.

As soon as the below requirements are meet up with then we will email you the
pick-up information's to your first transfer of $5,000.00 and then continue
with the rest of the transfer. We will be transferring your money to a nearby
Western Union to you.

The IMF will release your funds to us for transfer as soon as you meet up with
the above stated requirements.So get back to me with the cost of the
requirements. The International Remittance File will only cost you $65 while
the Ownership Certificate will cost you $65 so you are expected to send the
total cost of $65 to our Remittance Department via Western Union to the below
information's:

Receiver Name.....PETER EKESON
City.....Cotonou
Country.....Benin Republic
Text Question.....Color?
Answer..... Blue
Amount.....US$65

Sender's Name............
MTCN No#....................

We await for your urgent email with the payment information included the MTCN.
Call +229-67072194 for further information's

Yours in service
Mr.AKU JAMES
Western Union Benin
Republic Manager

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam