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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Mark Ben" <atmdeptcenter65@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrmarkben011@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2021 19:00:17 +0100
Subject: United States Former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin

Mr. Mark Ben. the Former United States Ambassador to Republic of Benin,
I came down here in Cotonou Benin Republic for an ECOWAS meeting and I
was searching for some files that I left in this office before I left
and found out that you have not received your fund, and I asked the
present ambassador Mr James Knight what happened that you have not
receive your fund since 2 years now, and he said that you refused to
pay the required fee for the delivery of your ATM CARD.

I'm contacting you this morning because the director of the ATM CARD
center here in Benin Republic said that they will divert your ATM CARD
to the Government Treasury just because that you cannot pay for the
service fee of your ATM CARD which is $75.00 only according to them.
But I told them to wait until I hear from you today so that I will know
the reason why you rejected such amount of money $7.500.000.00 Million
United State Dollars which will change your life just because of $75.00

I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this email and
explain to me the reason why you have abandon your ATM CARD because of
$75.00 But if you don't need it then I can change your name to another
person so that this Government will not claim this money but I know
that you will love to have it.

Please my dear I want to help you to receive this fund because it was a
big shock to me that you have not receive your ATM CARD and withdraw
your money since 2 years now and I'm very sorry for that and you will
receive your fund before the end of this meeting which will take us 2
days and I will be here to monitor it until you receive your fund.

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your full details.

1) FULL NAMES:
2) DELIVERY ADDRESS:
3) PHONE NUMBER
4) COUNTRY:

Mr. Mark Ben
United States Former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources: