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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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 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.
- email.officeuniontransferb09@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR, PAUL NKONO" <"www."@wing.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MR, PAUL NKONO" <officeuniontransferb09@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2017 18:38:22 +0900 (JST)
Subject: FROM FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER OFFICE.

FROM FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FREDERAL REPUBLIC WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER OFFICE.
OF NAIROBI KENYA FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.
Addressee :Rue du Government Ball;Box pos tale :BP 1280 - Continue.

Good day my dear,
How are you and family today? It has been a while now that we did not
communicate, I hope things is moving normal? However I decide to write
you to verify if you have raised the half of money to complete the
assignment we have at hand, Have you raised the $100? Now tell me
the reason why you stop communicate with us after your last mail or
are you forgetting that you have a payment of $5000 us Dollars here
every blessing day in this department, please my dear i will like
you to get back to us immediately with payment of $100 if you still
wiling to claim your payment because you have only today and tomorrow
and after tomorrow fail to send the fee we will cancel the payment
because we are not here to joke anymore with you or playing game,

Now are you still wiling to receive your payment or not, if you are
still willing please we beg you in the name of God to avoid you to
blame me here send the fee immediately before you will loose this
payment. this will be the last money you will send till you receive
your full payment and if i ask you to pay another money after sending
the $100,I swear that i will never fall my promise to you again, and
i,m here by giving you 100%Assurance that once you send the $100
today then give me(1 hours ) ahead to receive your $5000.USD Do not
allow the devil to turn your mind against this because by the time you
realize you have a mistake, it might be too late to are today,

HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO MAKE THE PAYMENT.

Receiver's name: CHINAZA ULOKAMUEJE
Country:Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Text Question: what color
Answer:Blue
Amount: $100
Mtcn:_____________
Sender' Name:_____________
Sender Country _____________

Regarding our telephone conversation, I cannot hear you very well on
the phone, you are advice to send the payment details to me on the
email and you will be sure to receive your payment as soon as the
money is received.

MTCN : 3019877570,
Sender's Name: Pamela Esperanza
Text Question: How Long
Answer: Today
Amount: $5000.00

Click tracking. and enter the https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/ send MTCN. 3019877570, then sender name
first (Pamela ) Sender Second name ( Esperanza ) to see that your money/app/tracktransfer
payment is available to pick up by receiver but you cannot pick it
until you send the $100 before we will give the full information to
pick up immediately. Check status of the transfer
I am waiting for the MTCN:

God bless you.
MR, PAUL NKONO
EMAIL.officeuniontransferb09@gmail.com
WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OFBenin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam