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. )
- "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.
- +22961058208 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Frank Edward" <robby_rita@alice.it>
Reply-To: info15611@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2015 13:32:57 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Good Morning, my Name is Mr. Frank Edward, the office in charge DHL
Delivery

FROM: MR. FRANK EDWARD
THE OFFICER IN CHARGE DHL
BP485, 3 Rue du Governed Fourn
Cotonou Benin Republic

Greetings,

Good Morning, my Name is Mr. Frank Edward, the office in charge DHL Delivery
Express Services here in Cotonou Benin Republic. This is to inform you that we
have received a package containing an ATM master card from Mr. Lines S.
Bernard the Chairman Federal Reserve Board and we have been instructed to
Deliver the
package to you without any further delay again as the International Monetary
Fund IMF have instructed.

Meanwhile I am very happy to let you know that the Delivery fee of your
package has been paid by the Bank Federal Reserve Board Branch were your Fund
was
approved so you don't have to pay for any Delivery fee again, the only thing
remaining right now is the (insurance Coverage fee and the Singing Stamp) of
your package which you are to settle to the approved receiver Agent as the
Authorities have Authorized before your package will be Delivered to you.

Note that we can not take the Risk of Delivering your package to you without
insuring it because we can not afford to pay for any lost or Damage in the
process of Delivering your package to you, try and understand the situation at
hand. However, the tracking number of your package will be issued to you as
soon as we receive the (insurance Coverage and the Singing/Stamp) fee of $45.00
from you, so You are here by advised to proceed to any western union or Money
Gram and send the (insurance Coverage fee and the Singing / Stamp) to our
receiving branch Head Office in Benin Republic, to enable us proceed with the
final Delivery to your Door Step,

Below is the information to send the (insurance Coverage fee and the Singing /
Stamp) of $45.00 Via Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram, bear in mind
that all you will ever have to spend to received this Fund is $45.00 Dollars
Nothing more Nothing less.

Receivers Name:........CHIKE ERIC
Address: ...........No.7, gauote
City:..............Cotonou,
Countrt:.......Benin Republic
Text Question.........In God
Answer.........We Trust

Amount to send .... $45.00 dollars only

MTCN............

Take note that you will have to stop communication with every other person if
you have been in contact with any. Also remember that all you will ever have to
spend is $45, nothing more! Nothing less! And we Guarantee the receipt of your
Fund to be successfully Delivered to you within the next 9hrs after
confirmation receipt of the fee of $45.00 USD only.

Note: Everything has been taken care of, including Taxes, Custom Paper and
Clearance Duty. So, all you will ever need to pay is 45.00 Dollars Only.

Note that you can Withdrawal Money from your international ATM Debit/Master
Card from any ATM Machine Location or Center of your Choice/Nearest to you in
any part of the world and the total amount approved for your payment through
ATM Card is Valued at US$8.5Million.

Please kindly Reconfirm the following Details Below to avoid any Wrong Delivery
over this Transaction,

1. Your full name:
2. Delivery address:
3. Your direct tel, cell:
4. A copy of your id or id numbers for identification:
5. Nearest airport:

Be advised that this is the only delay we have now and you must do what you can
to comply with the fee so that we can get this done Today or Tomorrow Morning,
so do get back to us when you have send the fee as well,

Your package will be sent to you upon confirmation receipt of the fee. We are
so sure of everything and we are giving you a 100% money back Guarantee if you
do not receive payment/package within the next 3 Days after you have made the
payment for shipping.

Forward The Western Union Mtcn And Also The Senders Information To This Office
Once The Payment Is Made So That We Can Get Your Package Insured And Proceed
With The Delivery Of Your Package To Your Door Steps. View the attachment to
this urgent latter is my Working ID Card for your confirmation.

Reply back to us accordingly; we wait for your expedite response.

Truly Yours
Mr. Frank Edward
phone number +229 61058208
Cotonou Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam