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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "infbkofficpcentre@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "infbkofficpcentre@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22998509217 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Caroline Richard" <"WWW."@sirius.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Caroline Richard" <infbkofficpcentre@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:21:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: TO Whom It May Concerning Notification Of Your Instrumentally
Payment Of US$5000

Welcome to western union Money Transfer Send Money Worldwide
western union bank Office Benin Republic
ADDRESS: AVENUE CAYENNE 2139 COTONOU Benin Republic
Visit Us Via Website: ( WWW.western-union.com )
Email: (infbkofficpcentre@outlook.com)
Telephone number: (+229 98 50 92 17)
Greetings From western union Transfer
From the desk of Caroline Richard

ATTENTION DEAR CUSTOMER

RE-OUTSTANDING TRANSFER OF US$2.500,000.00

I am out office since 2/8/17 I will come back on 3th Sept 2017 hoping you have picked your first instrumentally of US$5000 Which i sent to you before I traveled out of country since and have been in Paris-France all this while;Please be advised to contact Western union bank Service Representative to transfer you another instrumentally payment of US$5000.

Western Union service Number:+229 98 50 92 17
Open Date and Time: 8/24/2017 08:54:17 AM
Contact Customer Service: Mr.Lucky Oloh
Email;infbkofficpcentre@outlook.com

If you require to follow up on this request, please contact us by phone at one of the following numbers and reference the above CS number+229 98 50 92 17.For our customer service. I instructed him before I traveled. Right now the only amount you have to send to my Lucky oloh) is only $95 for the activation of your Western Union VAT File paper, to entitle you receiving payment daily payments till done?

The $95 should be sending to below:

Receiver: Lucky Oloh
Country: Benin Republic
Amount: $95
Mtcn:::
Sender name:
So you are to re-confirm to them the below information,

Your. Receiver
Your. Country
Your. City
Your. Tel
Your. Test question
Your. Answer
Your. Passport

Be advice that after this very $95, therefore will be none payment from you again than your daily confirming payment of $500 till the whole $2.500,000.00 is completed. My word and order to the western union Manager Director is that you should pay only bet $95 no more no less. Therefore if anybody asks you for any additional payment after you paying $95, kindly report to me because the person has cross line of my orders. Please I$B!G(Bm real sorry for the inconveniences this delayed might cause to you.

Thanks and Remain bless
Mrs. Caroline Richard

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam