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:
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "chambers" (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. )
- "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: MS ROSE JOHNSON <"QQQ."@dune.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MS ROSE JOHNSON <ecob172@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2017 23:10:30 +0900 (JST)
Subject: if you look closely at the the DHL tracking website , you will see
that your FUND has just been cleared Waybill: 5095655202

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
NATIONAL HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX
SENATE HOUSE - UPPER CHAMBERS WUSE DISTRICT,
COTONOU BENIN

Our Ref: FGN/SNT/STB

if you look closely at the the DHL tracking website , you will see that your FUND has just been cleared Waybill: 5095655202

THIS IS MY SECOND EMAIL TO YOU TODAY , THIS IS TO TELL YOU HOW SERIOUS AND URGENT THIS MESSAGES CALLS OUT FOR , THE DELIVERY WILL COME STRAIGHT TO YOUR HOME, YOU HAVE TO SEND OUT THE FEE SO WE CAN PROCEED IMMEDIATELY ..

Im not playing over this and you know it , if you look closely at the the DHL tracking website , you will see
that your FUND /CASH has just been cleared Waybill: 5095655202
Clearance processing complete at CINCINNATI HUB

i have to inform you that you still have time to get your cash at no other extra cost and i promise you that the package will be delivered to your address, and your government or any other authority wont have the access to get hold of your fund , THIS I HAVE PROMISED ...

CHECK THE TRACKING AND SEE THAT IT WRITES , HAS BEEN CLEARED NOW ,

You have to trust me and send the fee, what ever i HAVE done to you , this is not the right time to fight over it okay .send the fee today so that i can get the delivery made to your address, all we need is the transfer permit order from the federal high court , as soon as i have the ORDER, the delivery will be TRANSITED to your address, send the $65 usd today so that your package will be made available to your address, its going to be a cash at hand , so you dont have to seek for any pin code or activation of any kind , you can start using the CASH AS SOON AS THE CONSIGNMENT BOX ,

LOOK CLOSELY AT THE DHL WEBSITE AND SEE FOR YOUR SELF THAT IT HAS BEEN CLEARED ..

Here is the payment information through western union money transfer or money gram money transfer finally my advice to you is not to abandon this transaction because of the requirement of ($65) Account Officer Info: Send the fee through Money Gram Or Western Union only.

RECEIVER'S NAME:::::::: Chris Oba
CITY:::::::::::::: COTONOU
COUNTRY: ::::::::BENIN REPUBLIC
TEXT QUESTION: :::::GOOD
ANSWER:::::::: FINE
AMOUNT REQUIRED: :::::::$65 USD
SENDER'S NAME:::::
MTCN NUMBER#:
SENDER'S ADDRESS:

PLEASE ONCE YOU MAKE THE PAYMENT , SEND IT TO THIS EMAIL , DAVID EZE WILL RECEIVE IT AND HE WILL INSTRUCT ME FURTHER OK ..

GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU DONT GIVE UP ON YOUR FUND THIS LAST GODS GRACE TIME

MS ROSE JOHNSON

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam