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)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "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)
- "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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.James Mark" <"WWW."@pure.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.James Mark" <jamesmmark9@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2017 08:45:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I am Mr.James Mark from the managing director of the Guarantee
Trust Bank Of Benin Republic .

I am Mr.James Mark from the managing director of the Guarantee Trust Bank
Of Benin Republic . This message is to official inform you that we have
received payment instructions we also congratulate you for been part of
the investors with our bank in Marginal we are reputed for offering quality
banking solutions. Our services in the industry are made simple
clients /our customers in all transaction phases, planning and management
of finance.

Therefore ,we are happy to inform you that based on our
recommendation/instructions, your Entire funds has been gazetted for
urgent release and will be credited through Our bank ( GTB BANK Plc).
Further to your transaction, we are very delighted to inform you that we
are in receipt of your fund and the payment transfer instruction given to
our Organization to further remit the said funds to you via our GTB BANK
Plc in view of this we seek to inform you on the availability of your fund
and its subsequent remittance to you.

GBT Bank Plc is the trading name of FINESSE Africa Program Services
Limited, which is a regulated bank, licensed by the Financial Services
Commission (ADB) our services is to Arrange Your Payment through E-Banking
(Online/ Internet Banking) . This Service will afford you the luxury and
convenient of transferring your fund through the use of your Computer by
accessing your account Online and subsequently making
Transfers with the use of the Details that we will provide to you. It is a
new and modern form of Fund Transfer and its is SAFE, SECURE AND
CONVENIENT

Inconclusive we wish to enlighten you our conduct of operation and service
rendering. Dear customer we are to inform you that it the obligation of
every of our customer to open Non-Resident account here in our bank in
which he/her will use to transfer the fund into your local bank account
over there in your country .

Your funds was deposited in Guarantee Trust Bank ( G.T.BANK ) plc for
online bank transfer and the entire Federal High Court Of ECOWAS has made
every necessary arrangement to transfer your funds to you via E-online
bank transfer through our banking system since you were unable to receive
your funds after every stories that you heard so far and all the
unnecessary payment that you have been make , so the whole ECOWAS
(Economic Community Of Western African States ) Has concluded to
compensate you with the sum of $1 Million United State Dollars plus your
due total funds of $16.5 Million United State Dollars making your due
funds valued sum of $17.5 Million united
state dollars .

Your funds has been agreed up to be transferred to you Via E-online
transfer, this method of transfer is where by you transfer your funds to
your nominated bank account by your self . like i have stated to you
earlier that the only fee that you are to send is sum of $550.00 Usd for
the creating of your On-line Bank account for you which you will make your
transfer today and that is what i promised you once you send the $550
to us by today you are going transfer today okay so i will like you to
send the fee with this below information through western union money
transfer or money gram money transfer.

Receiver's Name:........ Frank Levi
Country:*.................... Benin Republic
City:*....................... Cotonou
Amount:*................. $550.00 Usd
Text Question:*....... Code
Text Answer:*........... 00229

Get Back to them with the payment information as below

Sender's Name:*..........
MTCN:*..........

I am looking forward to hear from you once you receive this email for
clear confirmation of your files.

Personal Information for fund Transfer Request.

First Name*:..............................
Last Name*:...............................
State of Origin*: ........................
Nationality*: ............................
Passport No*:.............................
National ID Card NO.*.....................
Phone Number*:............................
Fax Number*: .............................
Cell / Mobile No:.........................
Marital Status*:..........................
Gender*: Female ..........................
Birthday*:................................

Indicate Your Address
Residential Address*:.....................
City*:....................................
State*:...................................
Country*:.................................
Zip / Postal Code*: ......................
Office Address*:..........................
Occupation..................................
Amount Involved...........................

Email Address*: ..........................
Confirm Email Address*:...................
Password :....................
Existing Account At Place of Residence
City*:....................................
State*:...................................
Country*:.................................
Zip / Postal Code*:.......................

Thanks For Your Co-operation
Mr.James Mark

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam