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. )
- "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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
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.
- +22998789714 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr JAMES WILLIE <online0144@tim.it>
Reply-To: james-ambassador@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:22:13 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Re: Your First Payment Of $5,000.00 URGENT I NEED YOU REPLY TODAY
SO THAT I CAN SEE IF I CAN RAISE UP THE $75.00 PLUS THE COST TO SEND

ATTENTION :

We acknowledge the payment of $43.00 in order to transfer your funds to your
address from the IMF -International Monetary Fund, Benin Republic as approved
and issued on your name. In accordance to the conformation from this IMF today.
Your payment file had been approved and certified for install mental payments
to your address all requirements had been fulfilled by you except IMF Affidavit
of Funds from Benin High Court. It costs US$75.00 only. I was told that you
need to get the certificate from Benin high court to show the real Beneficiary
of the funds is $2.8million

According to the director of ministry of finance stated that such huge amount
cannot be release with out certificate of WESTERN UNION OPENING ACCOUNT, so I
will advice you to send the cost of the "WESTERN UNION OPENING ACCOUNT" of
US$75.00. Only through WESTERN UNION MONEY transfer to the name of JOHN OBI
immediately to enable me secure the document /address below:

Receiver name======OLU EBUBE
Country============Benin Republic
City===============Cotonou
Test Question=======GOD IS
Answer============GOOD
M T C N===========
Senderâ€™s NAME=====
Amount===========$75

After sending the payment today Confirm MTCN number and sender's name, address,
Text Question & Text Answer to this office.

On receipt of the payment it will enable me to secure the WESTERN UNION OPENING
ACCOUNT" and transfer your funds to your name. Be rest assure that once you pay
the $75 your fund will be transferred to you immediately and i will send to you
the MTCN number to enable you pick up the fund from western union and i will
use the same TEXT QUESTION: GOD IS TEXT ANSWER: GOOD So please send the money
with this name as i told you JOHN OBI .So you have to hurry and send the money
immediately to enable me meet up on what we have at hand, Yours faithfully, IMF
Managing Director Christine Lagarde Appoints Abebe Aemro Selassie as Director
of the IMFâ€™s African Department Yours faithfully,

REGARDS,
Mr JAMES WILLIE
The Director of Western Union.
Telephone +229-9878-9714,
Western Union Customer Care

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam