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.
- +22999680468 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Hazard Morris " <"WWW."@lion.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.Hazard Morris " <hazardmorris0@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2017 05:35:05 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I am Hazard Morris from the managing director of the Grantee Trust
Bank Of Benin Republic .

Compliment of the day dear very good friend ,

I am Hazard Morris from the managing director of the Grantee 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 to assist 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 Gurantee 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 ealier 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 $550to 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:........John Dieli
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
Account Name*:............................
Account Number*:..........................
Bank Name*: ..............................
City*:....................................
State*:...................................
Country*:.................................
Zip / Postal Code*:.......................

Thanks For Your Co-operation
Mr.Hazard Morris
+229 99680468
(FHCE)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam