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:

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:
- "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. )
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: David kelly <"www."@swan.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: David kelly <davidkely2025@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2017 08:19:17 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello! please go through this message and get back to us
immediately here is number to CALL or TEXT for more information
+1(203)447-0429, THANK YOU

This is to inform you that the UNITED NATION (UNCC) office was
instructed to transfer your fund $2,748,000.00 U.S Dollars
compensating Fund, and your email was found as one of the VICTIMS by
the America security leading team and AmericaÃ¢??s representative
officers. So between today the 16th of October till 20th Of December
2017 you will be receiving the sum of $5,000.00 dollars per day.
However be informed that we have already sent the $5,000.00 dollars
this morning to avoid cancellation of your payment, remaining the
total sum of $2,743,000.00.

You have only six hours to Contact this office upon the receipt of
this email the maximum amount you will be receiving per day
Ã¢??starting from today is $5,000.00 and the Money Transfer Control
Number of today is below.

Below is (1) Ref-Number control number available on your name:

Reference #: 17369582
Sender Second Name: MAZER
Amount: $5000

NOTE: The sent $5,000.00 is on-held because of the instruction from
UNCC Delegates, they asked us to place it on hold by requesting the
(Authorization Release Permit) in order to fulfill all necessary
obligation to avoid any hitches while sending you the payment through
MONEY-GRAM Office, the necessary obligation i mean here is to obtain
the (Authorization Release Permit). What you are requested now is
Authorization Release Permit, which is going to cost you $350USD
(only) please be aware that this is the only charges/fees, as soon
this is done, your funds will be release to you in less than 4 hours
through Money-Gram. Note that within 48hrs if you do not remit the
required $350USD the transfer will be retrieve back and remember that
the money details given to you do not bear your name as the receiver
yet until you make the payment of the $350 USD.

Below is the receiver name for the requested Authorization Release
Permit fee of $350.usd.

Receiver Name: Bell Kim
Country: BENIN REPUBLIC
City: COTONOU
Amount:$350.USD
Sender Nameâ€¦..
Mtcn numberâ€¦â€¦

Waiting to receive the requested fee with your direct phone number.

Thanks for your understanding and Cooperation.

Best Regards,
MR.David Kelly
Director Foreign Remittance

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam