419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045731981 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- mwilliamguo@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "United European Bank Plc" <info@unitedeuropeanbank.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mwilliamguo@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:14:20 -0500 (ECT)
Subject: Dear Customer
=?iso-8859-1?Q?=2CInstruction_To_Credit_Your_Account_with_=A3800=2C000_Br?=
itish Pounds Sterling As Part-payment

Dear Customer,

I wish to congratulate and inform you that after reviewing of your funds
transfer release documents with World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund assessment report, your payment file was forwarded to my table for
immediate transfer of the part-payment of your funds to your designated
bank account from their offshore account with us. I was just transferred
here newly and came across a file bearing your email address etc which was
marked X and your released disk painted RED, I took time to study it and
found out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all fees and but the fund was not
released to you.

The most annoying thing is that they won't tell you the truth that on no
account will they ever release the fund to you, instead they allow you
spend money unnecessarily, I do not intend to work here all the days of my
life, I can release this fund to you if you can certify me of my security
and to remember me for good as soon as you receive your fund.

you may not understand this because you are not a banker. The only thing
needed to release your fund is the World Bank Fund Clearance certificate
which will be tendered to any of your nominated bank and the INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) for clearance of the transferred amount in your
account.

Once the World Bank Fund Clearance certificate is obtained, your funds
will immediately reflect in your bank, the certificate is all that is
needed to complete this transaction.

The Audit reports given to me shows that you have been going through hard
times by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds, which
has been delayed by some former dubious officials.

I therefore advice that you stop further communication with any
correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay any money
or fee to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds
transfer requirements.

The only thing required from you now is to obtain the Fund Clearance
certificate to enable me credit your account directly by telegraphic
transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and send copies of the
funds transfer release documents to you and your bankers for confirmation.

Should you follow my directives, your funds will be credited and reflect
in your bank account within 24hrs from the day you obtain this clearance
certificate.

For further details and assistance on this Remittance Notification, kindly
furnish your current FULL CONTACT ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,INCLUDING
ANY OTHER BANK ACCOUNT OF YOUR CHOICE WHERE YOU WANT THE FUNDS TO BE
TRANSFERRED to this my private email address also: mwilliamguo@hotmail.com
Yours sincerely,

Mr William Guo
+447045731981

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam