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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs,rose" <"WWW."@pure.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "uwestern471100@yahoo.com" <uwestern471100@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2017 11:00:41 +0900 (JST)
Subject: =?ISO-2022-JP?Q?THIS_MAIL_IS_ONLY_FOR_THE_OWNER_OF_TH?=
=?ISO-2022-JP?Q?IS_E-MAIL_ADDRESS,_REGARDING_YOUR_APPR?=
=?ISO-2022-JP?Q?OVED_FUND:_$2,500.000.00_DOLLARS.__Som?=
=?ISO-2022-JP?Q?ebody_called_our_office_and_claimed_yo?=
=?ISO-2022-JP?Q?ur_assign_him_to_receive_these_funds_o?=
=?ISO-2022-JP?Q?n_your_behalf._So_i_called_our_head_of?=
=?ISO-2022-JP?Q?fice_to_be_sure_before_we_pay_money_to?=
=?ISO-2022-JP?Q?_the_wrong_person._It=1B$B!G=1B(Bs_clear_and_unde?=
=?ISO-2022-JP?Q?rstood_that_you_are_v

THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS, REGARDING YOUR
APPROVED FUND: $2,500.000.00 DOLLARS.

Somebody called our office and claimed your assign him to receive these
funds on your behalf. So i called our head office to be sure before we
pay money to the wrong person. It$B!G(Bs clear and understood that you are very
much alive and you did not authorize anyone to receive money on your
behalf. This case will be handed over to the force board to investigate
who this man trying to steal funds that does not belong to him.
The funds worth the sum of $2.500.000.00 USD and we will be sending you $5,000
daily until the $2.500.000.00 dollars are fully paid to you. Below is
the payment details made to you but your name has not been update as the
receiver.

HERE IS THE PAYMENT DETAILS POST OUT THIS MORNINGMTCN#: 908-182-6184

Sender: rose Uzo
Amount: $5,000
Receiver: ********
Question: Transfer code?
Answer: 001

STATUS: FUND AVAILABLE TO BE RECEIVE.

You are required to send $95 for the purchasing of your transfer files
to prevent an illegal payments to you during the time of your own payment.
Your name has not be updated on the system as the receiver
but we will do that once we receive the required fee from you today
then we put your name as the receiver and get back to you with the info
you need to pick up your first paymnet.

You are advise to send the fee $95 today. Send it by western union or
money gram to eneble us recieve the payment
in any of our department service with the information below,

Reciever Name::::: EMMA EGO
COUNTRY:::::: BENIN
CITY:::::: COTONOU
QUESTION: when?
ANSWER: today?

As soon as we receive confirmation of $95 payment info from you we will
quickly purchase your transfer files and release your fund to you
You will receive message back from us immedeatly the payment was activate
then you go and receive your $5,000 today. Please note,
you will not be able to recive your payment if not activated meanwhile
your ugent in sending the activation fee will be needed
you need to go along with your passport ID or your state
identity card when you need to pick up the fund transfer today.
You are entitle to receive your payment today if you do send the $95 today as
well.
This is the only payment you are required to make in this regards for
every other fee have been waived off by the federal ministry Benin.

yours sincerly,
awaiting your reply.

Mrs,rose

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam