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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22998233246 (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.
- officefile070@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND FOREIGN REMITTANCE UNIT
<baranyai.marta@t-online.hu>
Reply-To: officefile070@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2016 02:49:09 +0100
Subject: UNCLAIMED FUND .

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND FOREIGN REMITTANCE UNIT.
Senior Resident Representative Payment
9 Hon. Justice Balakin Avenue. Cotonou Benin Republic.
Email Address:(officefile070@yahoo.co.jp)
Telephone Number: +229 9823 3246
Officer In charge Of Foreign Inheritance Payment
Mr. James Amsterdam (SAN).

Attention:Please,

A power of attorney was forwarded to our office this morning by one gentle
man, one he is an American national and HIS Name is Mr Gerald N. Samaroo,
This man claimed to be your representative and this power of attorney
stated that you are dead, he brought an account to replace your information
in other to claim your fund of ($8.5 Million) Eight Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars which is now lying in a dormant account
UNCLAIMED, below is the Address he have submitted:

FULL NAME: Gerald N. Samaroo
FULL ADDRESS:: 7111-142 Ave N, # 107, Largo, Florida 33771, U.S.A.
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER: 727-421-49921
OCCUPATION:TRANSPORTS: Retired Accountant
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:: Married, 72 Years
Bank Account.city bank
account# / 6503809428.
Routing/122006743,
address 1076 peter Johnson Road, largo Florida.

Be further informed that this power of attorney also stated that you
suffered and died of a throat cancer. You are therefore given 24hrs to
confirm the truth in this information, If you are still alive, You are to
contact us back immediately, Because we work 24 hrs just to ensure that we
monitor all the activities going on in regards to the transfer of
beneficiaries inheritance and contract payment.

You are to call this office immediately for clarifications on this matter
as we shall be available 24 hrs to speak with you and give you the
necessary guidelines on how to ensure that your payment is wired to you
immediately and also be informed that any further delay from your side
could be dangerous, as we will not be held responsible for any wrong
payment.

So kindly contact us urgently if you are Alive as we have his
identification and residence he provided for this payment to be wired to
his account. N/B Note that you will required to pay the IMF payment Release
Bound administrative charge of $195.00us dollars for file endorsement
processing charge.

Here is the information you are required to send via email for us to check
up with the data's we have in our central computer.
(1) Full Name.............
(2) Country/State/ City Name.............
(3) Delivery Address.........
(4) Occupation.............
(5) Sex..................
(6) Age.................
(7) Telephone Number...........

Contact Person
Mr. James Amsterdam (SAN).
Email Address:(officefile070@yahoo.co.jp)
Telephone Number: +229 9823 3246

As soon as you provide the information above, we will direct you on how to
send the file endorsement processing charge of $195.00us dollars via
western union or money gram.

Thank You.
Mr. James Amsterdam (SAN).
Chief IMF payment Audit
International Monetary Funds
Senior Representative Payment Office Cotonou Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

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