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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
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.
- johndan414@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Pastor Peter John <"www."@orion.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Pastor Peter John <johndan414@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2017 21:58:13 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK YOU NOW WHAT IS YOUR AIM TOWARDS YOUR FUND
WHICH HAS BEEN DEPOSITED HERE FOR LONG TIME?

I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK YOU NOW WHAT IS YOUR AIM TOWARDS YOUR FUND WHICH HAS
BEEN DEPOSITED HERE FOR LONG TIME?

Do you want to abandoned your fund your fund here simple because of this
charge from the western union which is not up to two percent of what is coming
way?

Tell me your reasons of this since you know that this administrative charge
must be paid?
Listen everything is not all about money, at least I know that almost every
country sufferings from economic melt down, but if you can be truthful, honest
and have understanding among ourselves then we should be able to tell the
truth with the little we have so that the abandoned fund in question can be
transfer to you and forget the past failure you had because of the fee you are
told to pay.

Please I need your reply as soon as you read this message so that even if you
don$B!G(Bt have all the fee you are told to pay which is $500 let me know the one
you have so you can go and send it and the balance I will help you to sort it
out, but let me make this word clear to you , I don$B!G(Bt want you to tell me lies
,
just go straight and tell me how much you have so that I can complete the rest
for you.

I can accept any amount from $85 united state dollars upwards and I will
advice
you to always go by the truth because lying may cause a very big delay and you
cannot blame anybody.

Let us keep this agreement that if you tell the truth and I keep my promise the
blessings that follow truth shall follow us but if anyone of us tells lies
let the person receive the punishment of God (agreement is an oath).

Reconfirm your informations as follows
your name_________________,your current home address____________________
your working telephone number______________________,
your Id___,your current occupation_______________

SEND THE FEE TO OUR OFFICE CASHIER IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL

RECEIVER NAME___________________PETER OLO
AMOUNT_________________________$85
CITY_________________________PORTONOVO
COUNTRY_______________BENIN REPUBLIC
SENDER NAME____________________
MTCN NUMBER______________________

As you read this email please try to reconfirm your current full receivers
information$B!G(Bs so that once you send what you have there will be no more delay.

Thanks and I pray that this message will merit your understanding.
Email address::( johndan414@yahoo.com )
Regards
Pastor Peter John

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam