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:
- "million 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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "courier service" (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: "Michael Odili" <ozs@nesebar.bg>
Reply-To: michaelodili@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2017 10:37:51 +0300
Subject: COMPENSATION SETTLEMENT OF ESCROW ACCOUNTS $4.2 Million Dollar
lllll

COMPENSATION SETTLEMENT OF ESCROW ACCOUNTS $4.2 Million Dollars,

Dear Fund Beneficiary,

This is the second time i am sending you this notification letter
regarding to your abandoned ATM Visa Card valued sum of US$4.2Million and
i have not received any positive respond from you or making a suggestion
on how you wish to receive your ATM Card, Once again, I am Mr.Michael
Odili
,the new director ATM Head of Operation CorisBank Benin Republic, I
resumed to this office on the 5th of May 2017 and during my official
research I discovered an abandoned ATM Visa card valued sum of $4.2Million
belonging to you as the rightfully intimate beneficiary, I tried to know
why this card has not been released to you but I was told by the Corbis
Bank board of management that the former director ATM head of operation
who left this office two months ago withhold your card for his own
personal use without knowing that his evil plans towards diverting your
fund will be discovered.

Now that your ATM Visa card is still available and ready for your
receiving, therefore you can come down here to our bank to pick up your
card direct from my office or alternatively it can be arranged ship to
your address through any registered reliable courier service company that
you will take care of the courier charges, hope it is cleared and accepted
by you, I don’t know the courier cost of shipping the card to you but if
you permit me and accept the terms, then I can make an inquiry from the
courier shipping company to find out the cost, but in that case you will
be required to forward to me your address where you want to receive the
card to enable me find out the shipping cost to your location such as,

1, your full name and address
2, your direct phone number for easy communication.
3, identification card or passport
4, your Occupation

Your direct telephone number and address will be needed and more details
of your ATM card payment will be made known to you as soon as I receive
your swift positive response, Do not hesitate to call me on (+229)
6897-3376 as soon as you read this mail, Thanks for your co-operation and
i wait for your kind positive respond.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr.Michael Odili,
Coris Bank Management
Tel: (+229) 6897-3376

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam