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)
- "security keeping fee" (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 united states 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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (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.
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.
- +2348165197316
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.
- fedex@fedexpresscourier.us.pn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Veronica Amadi" <a4@officemaill.net>
Reply-To: <mrsveronicaamadi24@qq.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2016 17:53:33 -0400
Subject: You have to contact the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY now for the delivery of your
ATM CARD

Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Payment of

$10.5 million United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you for

a very long time now.

Then I went and deposited the ATM CARD with FEDEX COURIER COMPANY

HERE IN LAGOS NIGERIA, before I traveled . presently I am in Cyprus

Island for Heart Operation What you have to do now is to contact the

FEDEX COURIER COMPANY LAGOS as soon as possible to know when they

will deliver your package to you before the expiring date of the ATM

CARD.

For your information, I have paid the delivering Charges and

Insurance fees.The only money you will send to the FEDEX to deliver

your ATM CARD direct to your postal Address in your country is

($210.00 US) TWO HUNDRED AND Ten United States Dollars only being

Security Keeping Fees. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any

other money except $2100.00 US Dollars. I would have paid that but

they refused because they don't know when you will contact them for

the shipping due to the delay demorage charges.

You have to contact the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY now for the delivery of

your ATM CARD with this required information below:

Contact Person : Mr.David Weymouth
*********************************************
FedEx Express Courier Company.
Mr. David Weymouth
Head Dispatch Officer
E-mail: fedex@fedexpresscourier.us.pn
Telephone: +234-816 519 7316

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct

telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery

and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your

package over there and know when it will get to your address.

Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this

mail to avoid any further delay and ask them to give you the

information where you will pay them their Security Keeping fees of

$210.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.You should also let me

know through email as soon as you receive your ATM CARD.

I wait to hear from you immediately and I will be back in Nigeria as

soon as I recover from the Operation in the next one month.

Regards
Mrs. Veronica Amadi
Director Foreign Remt. Dept.
ZENITH BANK

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam