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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "money-gram" (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. )
- "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.
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.
- +22998333967 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Vickie Moore" <ww.union261@gmail.com>
Reply-To: money-gram2015@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:15:59 +0100
Subject: Again Last Notice, From Money Gram. Money Transfer..order from
Ministry of Finance.

Again Last Notice, From Money Gram. Money Transfer..order from Ministry of
Finance.

We received a signal message this morning regarding your funds which was
deposited here in our Money Gram branch office in Benin Republic . First of
all, the funds was deposited for immediate transfer and according to our
rules and regulations, you will be receiving your money $2900.00 per day
until it finished.

Secondly, we already proceeding of your first payment of $2900.00 this
morning but according to our head office you can not pick it up because the
money is on hold by Authority Transfer Department (A.T.D), you will start
receiving this fund immediately you make the payment of $59.00 for
Inco-transfer programming Charge, all the arrangement has been concluded
this morning.

Here is your payment details but it will remain on hold untill you send us
our required fee $59.00 before we can release it, Reference No,16128344

Finally, urgent send us the required fee $59.00 to enable us proceed on
your payment today..

The Inco-transfer programming Charge is $59.00, send it with then name of
our protocol agent Mr. Marcel Chukwuemeka on this information below:

1.RECEIVER NAME:......Emmanuel Nnalue
2.COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC
3.CITY :............... COTONOU .
4..TEST QUESTION:.....A?
5.TEST ANSWER:......B.
6.AMOUNT ...........59usd

Do it immediately to enable us proceed with our head office, and guarantee
you as soon as we hear from you with the payment of $59.00 today,

Bear it in mind the charges cannot be deduct from your total sum because
your fund is under security bond and no one is allow to take anything out
of it until you confirm the total fund in your custody. Send the $59.00
today via Money Gram money transfer with the name of our paying agent
Above .

Sincerely,
Dr. Vickie Moore.
money-gram2015@yandex.com
Money Gram payment office
+229 98333967

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam