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:
- "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. )
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Harley Steve <"WE."@alpha.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Harley Steve <harleysteve687@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2017 04:35:31 +0900 (JST)
Subject: your $8.5million award which has been hanging in the Government
portal for so long now.

Office of the finance Minister,
Federal Republic Of Benin,
Metro Plaza, Plot 991/992
Zakari Maimalari Street
Cadastral Zone AO,
Central Business District

Good day,

Following the inauguration of the new ministers and cyber fraud unit of the federal republic of Benin today at president Dr. Daniel Boni office, all the outstanding payment regarding compensation of scam victims in Benin and Nigeria has been submitted to my table as the new minister of Finance and all the impediments of the transfer has been waived by President Dr.Daniel Boni in other to curb out corruption in republic of Benin , your long awaited payment was among the files submitted for onward transfer, sequel to that, you are to immediately forward your account detail for the transfer of your $8.5million award which has been hanging in the Government portal for so long now.
Note the new administration has been mandated to finalize this transfer on or before 30th of this month so you are requested to furnish your account details where you want the money to be transferred or your mailing address if you want it to be transferred through ATM CARD and also send the dormant activation fee of $124USD for the activation of your file with the new government.
You will be giving payment information as soon as you confirm your delivery address or banking details.

You are to send us with the below information:

1. Full Name:::::::::::::::::
2. Telephone Numbers:::::::::
3. Your Age: ::::::::::::::::
4. Your Sex: ::::::::::::::::
5. Your Occupation:::::::::::
6. Your Country: ::::::::::::
7 Your Home Address::::::::::
9. Marital Status:
10. bank detail:::::::::::
11. Bank name:::::::::::
12. Account holder name:::::::::::
13. Account number:::::::::::
14. Swift code:::::::::::
15. Bank address:::::::::::

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Harley Steve
Federal Republic Of Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam