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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
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 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.
- wudepartsection@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "jeewa" <jeewa@intnet.mu>
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 03:02:12 +0400
Subject: NOW CONTACT WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER PAYMENT HEADQUARTER
FOR YOUR FUND.

NOW CONTACT WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER PAYMENT
HEADQUARTER FOR YOUR FUND.

Hello dear,

There is an issue involving $4.7M USD which was called to
Our Bank Societe Generale de Banque au Benin (SGBBE) from
THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE,BENIN REPUBLIC concerning
your compensation of $4.700,000.00 USD. The fund has been
forwarded to Western Union Money Transfer payment head
office and An instruction has come directly from Mr. Zeen
Mofis of Ministry Of Finance.

He asked us to start sending your fund install mentally
$5000 per day through western union money transfer. This
type of transfer means that you will be receiving $5000
every day through western union until the total of
$4.7MUSD is completely transferred to you.

Today, our bank has effected your first payment of $5000
through western union. Now you have to Contact,Mr. DAVID
Thatcher on his contact info below as he is the person
in-charge of your payment.

The Western union Agent is:
Name: Mr. DAVID Thatcher.
Email: wudepartsection@gmail.com
Phone:+229 688 62 641

Money sent Through Cornelis Zwaagstra, amount sent,
$5,000.00 to you today. So contact Mr. DAVID Thatcher on
above email address and tell him to give you needed
information for you to pick the $5,000.00 USD.

Reconfirm your address to him.
(1)Your Full name: ................
(2)Your Phone number: ...................
(3)Your Contact address: ..................
(4)Your Age: ....................................

You will also have to send them the RE-ACTIVATION fee of
$75usd [as per the instruction from the management ] Pls
contact Dr.MAMADOU Amadou ASAP and send him the fee for
him to send you the MTCN,QUEST/ANS and SENDER NAME for you
to pick up your first payment of $5000 USD .

Get back to me on ( wudepartsection@gmail.com ) as soon as
you receives your first payment.

Yours in Service.
Fabulous.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam