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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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 united states 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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
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.
- ja7437645@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- draft, consignment box delivery). send your reply only to: ja7437645@gmail.com or viviandouglas41@yahoo.com. we are waiting for your (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: VIVIAN DOUGLAS <"vvv."@angel.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: VIVIAN DOUGLAS <ja7437645@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2017 06:18:39 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I am Writing To You About Your $7.5 Million United States Dollars
In My Custody.

Dear Customer

This is to inform you that the Western Union Global Organization has compensated you with $7.5 Million U.S. Dollars to you as a scam victim found in the list of scam victims. We, the Western Union, Porto-Novo - Benin are ready to start sending the payments to you. And you will be receiving $5,000 U.S. Dollars twice every day through Western Union, Money Gram or RIA, depending on your choice, until your $7.5 Million U.S. Dollars are completely sent to you. These payments will be sent to your country in the form of Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN), MG reference numbers. The payment information will be sent to you for 'pick up' immediately after each transfer. We have everything in order and the transfer will begin as soon as you fulfill all the requirements.

Please, fill your information as listed below as you respond to this message:

Receiver's name.
Receiver's country & city.
Receiver's residence address.
Receiver's phone number.
Receiver's question & answer.

It is according to our policy that you as the intended recipient of these compensation funds of $7.5 Million U.S. Dollars should pay $77 U.S. Dollars to obtain an Ownership Certificate on your behalf from the Federal High Court of Justice of Benin before we start sending the payments to you. This document is very important because it will certify that you are truly and rightfully the owner of the funds in question, in case you are asked to show what makes you the owner of the fund you are receiving.

Please send the money through Western Union or Money Gram to the name of our Accountant, Johnny Dubem. The payment information is below:

Receiver's name: Johnny Dubem
Country: Benin Republic
Location: Porto-Novo - Benin
City: Porto-Novo
Test Question: honest
Answer: truth

After making the needed payment of $77 U.S. Dollars through Western Union or Money Gram, you should attach and send the payment copy to us through email. Within 24hrs we receive the payment fee we will transfer your first payments - $5000 United States Dollars, and the subsequent payments which will be sent daily. (In any case, we are willing too to send the funds to you through any other means of your chosen such as, bank wire transfer, ATM card, certified bank check, bank draft, consignment box delivery).

Send your reply only to: ja7437645@gmail.com or viviandouglas41@yahoo.com.

We are waiting for your positive response.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Vivian Douglas,
Director of Western Union, Porto-Novo - Benin.
I am Writing To You About Your $7.5 Million United States Dollars In My Custody.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam