419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (YYYY-MM)

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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- ora_bank2@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: DR GREG HARRY <dharry10@yahoo.com>
Date:
Subject: Cancelled: HAS BEEN CANCELLED BEFORE BUT YOUR OPPORTUNINTY RESTORED
AGAIN @ Monday, 02 October 2017

OCT

02

"HAS BEEN CANCELLED BEFORE BUT YOUR OPPORTUNINTY RESTORED AGAIN" has been
cancelled

When Monday, 02 October 2017
09:00 AM to 09:30 AM
(GMT) Greenwich Mean Time - Dublin / Edinburgh / Lisbon / London

Message This is to inform you that your long awaiting overdue unclaimed funds sum of US$15.7 Million Dollars which you are entitled to receive but due to one reason or the other was denied from you by some corrupted bank officialS, western union,money gram and some courier agents has been released and was deposited with ora bank so contact them now with your full info, SUCH AS:::YOUR WORKING MOBILE NUMBER,OCCUPATION,COUNTRY OF ORIGIN,HOME ADDRESS, for immediate release of your inheritance funds to you without any delay OK.(ora_bank2@yahoo.com) Warm Regards Dr.Greg Harry

This event invitation was sent from Yahoo Calendar

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam