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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Money Gram Transfer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <miikeb4723@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2016 05:09:25 -0300
Subject: Dear Esteemed customer

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Address: Head Office: Plot 1669, Oyin Jolayemi Street Victoria Island, Lagos-Nigeria.
Telephone: +234-817-683-0818.
 
Attention: Esteemed Customer,
 
 
Be informed that the sum of Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars (USD$3,500.00) has already been sent to you via our service Money Gram as we have been given the mandate to your full overdue payment a total sum of USD$5,000,000.00 by the Ministry of Finance.
 
 
I tried contacting you to give you the necessary information to enable you pick up your funds but I couldn't get through yesterday, so I decided to email you the Reference Number  and sender’s name so that you can pick up the USD$$3,500.00 to enable us send another USD$3,500.00 by tomorrow.
 
 
As you know already we will be sending you USD$3,500.00 only per day. And it was agreed that you are to pay the Clearance Certificate charges of USD$159.00 only before you are enabled to pick up your first payment, do take note of this, that you are to pay the USD$159.00 before picking up your first payment.
 
 
Go to any Money Gram office in your locality to pick up the USD$3,500.00 which is currently active and endeavor to call me as soon as you get this mail as the Operation Manager in charge of your payment, and I will send you another payment tomorrow once you pick up the first one.
 
Telephone Number to call +234-817-683-0818, or E-mail: (miikeb4723@gmail.com).
 
 
Below is the Money Gram information to pick up the USD$3,500.00 which you will be receiving daily after you send the Transfer Clearance Certificate charges of USD$159.00 and it will serve as re-confirmation of your payment file in this office.
 
 
NOTE:
 
That you cannot pick up these funds if the Transfer Clearance Certificate charges is not paid.
 
 
Money Gram Reference Number: 72650395
 
Senders First Name: Anthonia 
 
Senders Last Name: Akpuafor
 
Senders Address: Lagos, Nigeria
 
Amount Sent: USD$$3,500.00
 
Text Question: Color
 
Text Answer: Green
 
 
I will be waiting to hear from you with the Transfer Clearance Certificate payment of USD$159.00 today. You are advised by our managements to send the money via Money Gram with this receivers information as stated below: -
 
 
Receivers Name: Anu Deborah
 
Receivers Address: Lagos, Nigeria
 
Text Answer: Good
 
Text Answer: Love
 
Amount: USD$159.
 
 
Be advised that the USD$159.00 Transfer Clearance Certificate is compulsory as I was told, that is the only fee to be paid before you can receive your payment completely. Endeavor to e-mail your direct contact and telephone number to us immediately.
 
 
Regards
 
Nwagu Ataja
 
Telephone Number: +234-8176830818
 
Email: (miikeb4723@gmail.com).

Anti-fraud resources: