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. )
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: FROM CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
<officeinfo05@fredfarms.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <officedepartment01@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2017 13:28:04 -0700
Subject: FROM CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, VERY URGENT

Charlotte Douglas International Airport
5501 R C Josh Birmingham Parkway Charlotte,
NC 28208, United States
North Carolina.
Charlotte, NC 28208.
Phone: 704-612-9472

Good Day,

Sorry for the delay in sending this message, We were checking over some files
and packages in the office and we discover an ATM CARD which was
addressed on your name, (I think it is a winning funds) I believe you
can remember a dealing that has to do with some cooperate body or
individual about this said funds to be deliver to you through an (ATM
CARD) but I do not have any idea why it was on hold at our Airport
up-to-date.

So we contacted the Authorities and they asked us to get in contact
with Senator John Boozman, to get an approval to figure out what was
in the package, After checking over the ATM CARD, we discover a total
sum of $5.5,000.000 ($5.5 Million USD) through the router figurative
machine who check on balance through the number on a ATM CARD, so we
report back to the Senator John Boozman and we were asked to deliver
the package to you from this office. (Senator John Boozman, 1401 W
Capital, Ste 1500 Little Rock, AR 72201) We need you to reconfirm your
full name and Home address if show as it is on the package we have
here. If you want it to be delivered to you immediately, it will cost
you just $198 which is the charges for the insurance certificate and
delivery of the ATM CARD meanwhile your funds is save with our
securities service so please have that in mind. Below is the payment
information, payment should be made via money gram or western union
and also send us your address!

The information above is where the ATM CARD was stopped at Charlotte
Douglas International Airport
North Carolina.

Mrs.Flora Hageman
Supervising Manager

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam