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:
- "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. )
- "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.
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.
- diamondbankolc101@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.John E.Eze." <mrjohnemmaeze08@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diamondbankolc101@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2017 20:30:46 -0800
Subject: Re: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND(IMF)
FINANCIAL MONITORY DEPARTMENT/UNIT.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
FINANCIAL MONITORY DEPARTMENT/UNIT.
100 Broad Street Main Ave Benin Republic, 2015
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)

International Monetary Fund,
Committee on policy harmonization west Africa.

Urgent Attention.

We are pleased to inform you that we are the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) set up by the United Nations in conjunction with the World Bank
.Based on series of petitions we received from International Bodies such as
Cooperate Bodies and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO on the Inability of
some Government of different countries in the World, Mostly Africa bank &
their Commercial banks and World Lottery Organization.

After the meeting held on yesterday, your name was listed for compensation
payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid $7.2million USD .as
compensations .On this faithful recommendations, I want you to know that
during the last meetings held at Cotonou, Benin Republic, it was alarmed so
much by the world in the meetings on the loose of funds by various
individuals to the scams artists operating in-syndicates all over the world
today.

In other to compensate victims, the U.N Body is now paying 10 victims of
this operators $7.2million USD each in accordance with the U.N.
recommendations.

Due to the corrupt and inefficient Banking Systems, the payments are to be
paid by Central Bank of west Africa, According to the number of applicants
at hand, 14 Beneficiaries has been paid, half of the victims are from the
United States, we are still have more 36 left to be paid the compensations
of $7.2million USD each, you are hereby warned not to communicate or
duplicate this message to any body for any reason what so ever as the U.S.
secret service is already on trace of the other criminals. So keep it
secret till they are all apprehended. Other victims who have not been
contacted can submit their application as well for scrutiny and possible
consideration.

Listen to me now, you have nothing to pay for the transfer of this your
funds into your account, if you will not be able to come down here by
yourself to sign the certificate of fund release order of the funds, you
will contact the central bank of west Africa attorney in order to sign the
papers on your behalf on submit to bank of west Africa for transferring of
the funds into your account .Bear it in mind that the attorney may demand
consultation fees of $200,00 only from you, we are waiting for your
response to commence with the transfer immediately.

Your personal code: Payment Reference No.-35460021, Allocation No: 674632
Password No: 339331 , Pin Code No: 55674 and your Certificate of Merit
Payment No : 103 , Released Code No: 0763; Immediate Telex confirmation No:
-1114433 ; Secret Code No: XXTN013, We are expecting your urgent response
to this email to know if you will be able to come down here or send the
$200,00 for the consultation fee,

HERE IS THE INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE $200,00 THROUGH WESTER
NUNION OR MONEY GRAM.

Receiver's Name:------- James Ikeli
Country---Benin Republic
City------Cotonou
Zip code--00229
Question---When
Answer-----Now
Amount-----$200,00
MTCN-------
Sender's Name-------
Sender's Mobile Phone number-----

DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR
Mr.John E.Eze. IMF DIRECTOR
E-MAIL: diamondbankolc101@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam