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.
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +22964215951 (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.
- emsexpressoffice@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Your atm card <supply21.@ninus.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "emsexpressoffice@yahoo.fr" <emsexpressoffice@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 12 May 2016 00:55:44 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I have deposited your ATM DEBIT CARD of $1.2million United state
dollars to the EMS

Dear Friend,

I just want to inform you that I have deposited your ATM DEBIT CARD of $1.2million United state dollars to the EMS - Express Mail Service here in Benin Republic, due to I have waited enough to hear from you so that your funds can be transferred through UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA) here, but because of the late response I now decide to deposit the ATM DEBIT CARD with the EMS - Express Mail Service with your Email Address.

I have paid them their delivery charges & insurance coverage fee, the only fee to be paid is their security safe keeping fee of which i don't know how much it will cost you.
I will be traveling to London to see my boss and I will not come back till next month,Therefore I will advise you to contact the Express Mail Service shipment officer with his contact information as listed below to avoid them increasing their security safe keeping fee.

Note that I packaged the ATM DEBIT CARD inside a magazine where nobody will notice the content, I also told the shipment officer Mr William Powell, that is an ordinary African magazine that I want to deliver to my friend to avoid further delay unless you delay to send their security safe keeping fee 68usd.

Below is the shipment officer contact information including his email address with the parcel reference number, note that without you indicating your parcel number as listed below the EMS - Express Mail Service will not listen to you they will be imagining if you want to steal another persons parcel.

Attention: Mr William Powell Shipment Officer Of EMS - Express Mail Service Benin Republic E-mail:(emsexpressoffice@yahoo.fr)

Private Line: +229 6421 5951
Office Fax: +229 61266991
No of parcel :Eg2272
Parcel Code Nos:#01721457

Also below is the information they need to deliver the ATM DEBIT CARD to your address, this is to avoid wrong delivery .
Full name......................
Home address............
Country....................
Telephone...............
Occupation............

Please make sure the information is complete as they promised that once they receive their security safe keeping fee within 2 to 3 working days the magazine will arrived to your door step according to the shipment officer.

Once again, the EMS - Express Mail Service do not know the content of the parcel, I registered it as an African magazine they don't know it contains ATM DEBIT CARD inside this is to avoid them delaying the delivery and besides I don't want you to loose your inheritance funds.

You can call the shipment officer on his private line to confirm this delivery 22961266991,
let me know immediately you receive the ATM DEBIT CARD.

Your ATM DEBIT CARD withdrawing access pin code number is (01133) take note, once you receive the card you take it to any cash point around your area and slotted the card and enter the pin code number (01133) for withdrawal, the amount you are to withdrew per day is USD$5000. (Five thousand United State dollars) each day.

Remain blessed and enjoy your funds.
Thanks.
Mr Fabian Patrick

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam