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:

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:
- "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. )
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "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 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.
- +22998097080 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION <department.atmpayment3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wunion011@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:03:49 -0800
Subject: CONFIRM YOUR MONEY PAYMENT VERY URGENT BY TRACKING THE PAYMENT
INFORMATION IN HERE, FROM WESTERN UNION HEADQUARTER BENIN

Attn: To whom it may concern

Please be informed that the funds are coming directly from the
International Monetary Funds headquarters and we are only to pay
beneficiaries once they meet their financial obligations. Also note
that Western Union is not allowed to make all payment at once via
western union money transfer for security reasons, upon receipt of
your fees and your International Remittance File purchased, you are
receiving a first pay-out of $10,000 which is made into halves which
will enable you walk into any Western Union office of your choice and
pick up your funds. Note that the remaining fund/payment will be made
installed in the following order:

1. $10,000 made payable to you from the Western Union
2. $740,000 made payable to you via bank wire transfer from our
designated paying bank.

Upon receipt of the fee for the purchasing of your international
remittance file, you are receiving your first pay-out of $10,000.
Below are details of your money transfer of $10,000 made on your
behalf but it has no receiver's name yet until you remit the $93.00 to
us before we can purchase the inheritance file with your name and put
your name as the receiver. Below is the information you will use to
send us the fee $93.00 Via western union.

RECEIVER NAME........ MR SUNDAY ARUM
COUNTRY............ COTONOU-REPUBLIC OF BENIN
CITY.........COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION......COUNTRY CODE?
ANSWER.............00229

Then after you send the money you can forward the payment information
to us for immediate change of the receivers name to your own name to
enable you pick up the money by Monday.

As soon as we receive the payment of the $93.00 from you. We will put
your name as the receiver and you will go to any western union and
pick up the money.

PAYMENT DETAILS MADE FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION!!!

Amount: $10,000 USD,

MTCN: 2460248830:

SENDER`S FIRST NAME : RAPHEAL
SNDER'S LAST NAME: CHUKWUKADIBIA

You can log onto our website www.westernunion.com and track your
transfer and see that your money is there but needed the above stated
fee to redirect the transfer to you for your easy pick up. Note that
within 72hrs if you do not remit the required $93.00 which has already
been made ($10,000)It will be withdrawn back and remember that the
money details given to you does not bear your name as the receiver
until you make the payment of the $93.00

Get back to us very urgent with the payment information once the
payment is been done and you can contact me on my direct line for more
details or for any question .

Call for confirmation of receipt of this message on: +22998097080
have a good day.

Regards,
Mr. Rapheal Chukwukadibia
Western Union Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam