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:
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "africanexpresscouriercomanylt8@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER:STEVEN CLARK" <jordi@secrel.com.br>
Reply-To: africanexpresscouriercomanylt8@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2017 08:33:11 +0200 (SAST)
Subject: This is the code to acess your ATM card in any atm payment
center:(0462).

LATEST REPORT FROM FEDERAL HIGH COURT
BENIN REPUBLIC.

CONTENT APROOVE:SCAM VICTIM VERIFICATION
DATE APROOVE:1/03/2017
APPEAL NUMBER: CA/A/265/M/05

ATTENTION PLEASE,

This to acknowledge you that your e-mail id is found among those that have
been scammed, and the competiation have been approved from the supreme
high court today and we are intructed to contact you by the new presidency
Mr Iyayi Boyi on how to send you your(US$19,800.000.00) united state
dollars by the diplomatic courier agent and the fund has been arrenged on
ATM CARD.

So you are advice to contact the delivery company in charge where your
VALID ATM CARD is deposited.And make sure you contact them with your full
Contact information such as listed below.

(A)Your full Name.....
(B)Your home address.......
(C)Your current Telephone number.........
(D)Your occupation...........
(E)Your present Country........................
(F)your international passport/or drivers licens or state I.D
Card........

Also foward the major email they use to scam you because we need it for
more investigation to effect easy arrest.

here is the information to send the only $75 today.
RECEIVE NAME EDWIN OKONO
COUNTRY BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION HOW LONG
ANSWER 3HOUR
SENDER NAM....
MTCN NUMBER.....
Remember,the reason why your total fund was arrenged on ATM CARD is
because many People complain about Froud stars every day from Benin and we
are trying to stop this fraudulent from Benin and am asuring you that it
will stop because we are now working with the internet operation such as
YAHOOMAIL, HOTMAIL,AOLMAIL and also the united state FBI and Ecconomic
financial crime commisiion (EFCC).

Many people have been scamed by bank wire transfer going around the whole
africa and the reason to STOP paying money to the froud starsSo the scam
can be eradicated in this country and I want you to follow your fund code
which follow bellow, and whish is given to you by the Federal high court
of Benin and the code is (FBI/HC-2A/CAC/002)

And I want you to keep this code, because this code will ensure and Alert
you in any day you receive a scam e-mail from this country. And as soon as
you contact AFRICAN EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY OF BENIN REPUBLIC with your
full contact information requested, they will forward everything to the
Benin presidency office to issue out your fund certificate as the rightful
beneficiary.

Company Name:AFRICAN EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY
Executive director,Mr,Larry Duwala.
E-mail:(africanexpresscouriercomanylt8@outlook.com )
Telle Phone: + 2 2 9-66160544
Contact them in regarding of the ATM card to be deliver to you home
address through diplomatic way.Be inform that any beneficiary will be
responsible to pay for there shipping fee to avoid any scam/fraud activity
in subject:0-4 Act/2016.
The shipping fee is just $75.00 USD ONLY(Seventy five united state
dollar)and you will receive your ATM CARD African express courier company.

The executive director in charges of your ATM BOX will alert the united
state bureau investigation and also your state police for the ATM BOX to
be deliver to you without any restriction and problem when the fund get to
your location area.

This is the code to acess your ATM card in any atm payment center:(0462).

WARNING:in no condition will make you to educate this code above to any
body you might trust to avoid why had i known at last.Do let us know once
you have recieve your ATM card.
Thumbnail for version as of 13:7, 9 /08/ 2016
Thanks.
CHIEF GEORGE:ALEX O.ONYEKOZUL
BARRISTER:STEVEN CLARK
FROM THE DESK BARRISTER:JAMES A.OBUMNEME

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam