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:
- "demurrages " (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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22998690190 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- godwinbills@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Godwin Bills <godwinbills2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <godwinbills@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:06:12 +0000
Subject: IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT IS NOT TRUE!!! GET BACK TO ME
URGENTLY.

Dear Beneficiary,
I am Barrister Godwin Bills. A financial accredited attorney with the (AFRICAN BANK) Bank Of Africa (BOA), am also a consultant for the paying bank and the BENIN Treasury, I am a Republic of Benin citizen but Ghanaian by birth. Am contacting you in regards to your over delayed payment fund, be informed that your fund transfer was hijacked by corrupt official, imposters and criminals.

The good news is that I intervened in these delayed payments especially the interest the fund yielded over this period and I worked with a friend and director in the BENIN Treasury to get out part of your fund and deposited with a security firm in Republic Of Benin as family treasures awaiting to hear from you urgently to avoid incurring demurrages in the security firm.

You are warned in your own interest not to communicate with any body about this development (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH), what is required of you now is to arrange for your coming down to Republic of Benin and receive this fund urgently for am here to guide you and no more sending money to anybody but coming down here to Republic of Benin to receive your fund from the security firm and arrange how you can carry or transfer the money bit by bit to your Country.

Get back to me urgently on this E-mail: (godwinbills@gmail.com), telephone: +229-98 69 01 90.

Barr. Godwin Bills, (SAB) Senior Advocate of Benin.
Suite 1, 1st Floor, 336 High Court Avenue, Cotonou, Benin.
Tel: +229-98 69 01 90, E-mail: godwinbills@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam