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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "million 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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
- +22998349994 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- wu_transfer_tecnology@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: don jackson <donjackson7780@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:09:52 +0000
Subject: ATTN: SIR/MADAM, YOUR FIRST PAYMENT HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU: MTCN
Number::: 7298423178.

Welcome to Western Union transferring payment head office
741 Rue Des Franciscans Adidogome
Benin Republic / Lome broade P.O Box 9263
Email:( wu_transfer_tecnology@hotmail.com )

Breaking News 2016, this is to inform you that the higher authorities that is in charge of international transaction has this day declared that you will receive your Fund worths of $5. 5 Million Dollars through Western Union Money Transfer unit only as compensation for your past effort here in Benin Republic, so the arrangement has been made this morning and the Federal High Court Of Justice has signed your Western Union Transfer Papers and you will pay $150 only for the signing of your Transfer Papers which means your transfer will start after 3 hours of confirmation. The daily transfer of your fund is USD$5000 until the total amount US$5. 5 Million Dollars is completely transferred to you, i am here to swear to you that your first payment of USD$5000 daily transfer will be on its way once the fee is confirm as from today till Saturday morning.

Below is the First transfer payment details which has been insert into our computer.

1)Senders Name:: Holly Waldon
2)MTCN Number::: 7298423178
3)Amount::: USD$5000.00 USD.
Track it with our website: (https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=CN) or you can call this number to confrim the payment of the mtcn numbers, Tel: +229 98349994

Then we want you to type ( www.westernunion.com ) and click tracking and pest sender's first name and last name,then you pest mtcn number and click status to see that your first transfer of $5000 USD is available to pick up by you but you will not pick it up until you pay the needed $150 for the signing of your Western Union Transfer Papers by the Federal High Court Benin Republic. So we are here giving you this Western Union Payment Information for you to send the $150 USD immediately and your first transfer of the $5000 USD will be on its way after we pick the $150 USD.

You are to send the needed fee of $150 USD as urgent as you can with the bellow receiver information because you must pay sum of $150 USD, so please kindly send this fee on time to enable us meet up on sending you your first payment of $5000 USD immediately to you, God Bless You

1) Receiver's Name: Augustine Molokwu
2) Country:.................Benin Republic
3) City .......................Cotonou
4) Text Question;.......when
5) Answer; ................Now
6) Amount..................$150 USD dollar
7) Mtcn Control Number ..........
8)sender name............

We are waiting for your mail with the payment information of $150 USD from you and be rest assured that you will receive your total compensation of USD$5. 5 Million Dollars from us because here is the General Head Office here in Benin Republic. Finally you are advise to stop emailing any office or department here in Benin Republic until you receive your full compensation from us,this is for your security reason.

>From Western Union Money
Transfer Head Office Benin Republic
Manager Mr. Don Williams
Phone: +229-98349994.
EMAIL TO REPLY ( wu_transfer_tecnology@hotmail.com )

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam