419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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)
- "million us 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)
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "michaelantony44@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.

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Karen Mccharen <"www."@violin.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr Karen Mccharen <michaelantony44@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2017 05:13:03 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION THIS IS ONLY OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE YOUR ATM
VISA CARD,

UPS Delivery Company Service
International Operations Division
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
Office Hours: Monday To Saturday

ATTENTION THIS IS ONLY OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE YOUR ATM VISA CARD,

My Name is Chief Hon, Jeff Robert Carl the inspector general of International
Interpol Police Force Investigating Benin Republic, This is to inform you that the
government of this country Benin Republic are sending you the sum of of
US$500,000.00 which you have lost before because we got Mr KAREN MCCHAREN & co
scamming you but We got them arrested today for such criminal act which is against
our law. The government is rewarding these funds to you as one of the scam victim
compensation given to you. We where able to get your email through them that extort
money from you and when the police got them arrested One of them gave us your email
address who called his name Mr.KAREN MCCHAREN while his name he told you wasn't Mr KAREN MCCHAREN because they has
there scam names.

Today the president of this country His Excellency Dr. Patrice Talon has sent aside
the sum of of US$500,000.00 to make it of $1000,000.000 (One Million Us Dollars in
ATM CARD to send to you through DHL Courier Company.
We have made a concrete arrangement with the Courier Company for a safe delivery to
your door-step once the beneficiary meets up the demand of the conveyance. Note
that all the delivery fee has been paid on your behalf. But you are advise to send
only of US$55 dollar immediately to our office for your clearance certificate
because our agent will proceed to the Benin High Court first thing tomorrow morning
so that he should get the certificate before your ATM CARD will leave this country
because now before you receive this message, your funds is in the Courier Company.

The Courier agent will use the certificate to obtain the transaction.
So you advice to contact us now Chief Hon, Jeff Robert Carl the inspector general
of International Interpol Police Force Investigating Benin Republic, Office
immediately with your full information for delivery of your ATM CARD and also to
enable our office confirm that you are the real owner of this Email address to
avoid any mistake.

Your Full Name.....
Your Country........
Your City..........
Your Telephone Number......
Your Passport..............
Your Age...................

Contact our Office with this information below for more information and for quick
deliver of your consignment ATM CARD.
Below is where you can send the of US$55 via money gram or western union

Receiver's Name...... BASIL EJIKE
Country.............. Republic of Benin
City................. Cotonou
Text Question.......... Code
Answer.................. 229
Amount of US$55

Pleas mail me once you Sent the of US$55 Please we are waiting for you, we should
go to court with those thief before tomorrow. Mail me for the payment information
immediately once send the fee $55usd ok.

God bless
Chief Mr Karen Mccharen
Email is michaelantony44@outlook.com
The inspector general of International Interpol Police Force

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam