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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Rev Micky Donald" <"www."@rhythm.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. Rev Micky Donald" <usaabinfo@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2017 05:03:44 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Season Of Notification Foreign Payment Settlement through ATM
Master Card

Season Of Notification Foreign Payment Settlement through ATM Master Card

To email id owners only.

We hereby officially notifying you about the present arrangement to pay you, your over due Winning Prize/inheritance fund which you could not complete the process of the released of your transfer pin code through the Digitized Payment System. We have decided to pay your funds through (ATM VISA Card) This arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank, United Nation and Paris Club, due to fraudulent activities going on around the world.

The World Bank, United Nations and Paris Club introduced this payment arrangement as to enable our Contract, Winning Prize,inheritance beneficiary to receive their fund without any interference. the ATM VISA Card was contracted and powered by GOLD CARD WORLD WIDE.

The ATM VISA CARD is credited with the sum of $1,500.000.00 USD(One Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars), it is already loaded in the VISA CARD which you can use to access your fund in any ATM Stand/location worldwide and remember that the maximum withdrawal daily limit is Five Thousand United States Dollars(US$5,000.00)we have concluded delivery arrangement with the below courier services companies and their delivery time is stated below.

UPS=48hrs/$155
FedEx=72hrs/$150
DHL=4days/$165

Kindly provide me with the below details in your response to this email and let me know which courier company you would like us to use for the shipment of your ATM Card to your destination.

1. Valid Delivery Address:
2. Full Names:
3. Phone Number:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Sex:

Understand that you will be liable for the delivery fee of your ATM VISA CARD to you with any of the above courier company.

I Await Your Quick Response To This Mail.

With Deep Respect And Gratitude
Rev. Micky Donald
Director Foreign Remittance Department
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc
Please call at (+229)96 05 85 76

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam