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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: MRS MICHELLE OBAMA <Doc.@onyx.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MRS MICHELLE OBAMA <mrsmichelleobama2015@yahoo.in>
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2016 02:14:43 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Your funds has been approved by the Federal Government of United
States Of America

I am Mrs. Michelle Obama, and I am writing to inform you about your Bank Check Draft brought back by the United Embassy from the government of Benin Republic in the white house Washington DC been mandated to be deliver to your home address once you reconfirm it with the one i have here with me to avoid wrong delivery

Sixty million united states dollars 60,000,000,00usd that was assigned to be delivered to your humble home address by my husband Honorable president Barrack
Obama the president of this great country this week by a delivery agent Mr JAMES BOOMBERG

I will like you to reconfirm to me the following details

Full names: __________________________
Address:_____________________________________
Country:______________________________________
Sex: ________________________________________
Age: ________________________________________
Occupation/Position: _________________________________

NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE TO RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FUND IMMEDIATELY THROUGH BANK CHECK DELIVERED TO YOUR DOORSTEP FOR EVERY OTHER THINGS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR YOUR GOOD OK.

Yours Sincerely,
MRS MICHELLE HUSSEIN OBAMA
FIRST_LADY USA
GOD BLESS AMERICA
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500, United States

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam