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. )
- "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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "TONY O.ELUMELU" <tonyelumel@t-online.de>
Reply-To: "tonyelumel@gmail.com" <tonyelumel@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 May 2017 02:23:55 +0200 (MEST)
Subject: DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC HEAD
OFFICE ADDRESS

FROM DR.TONY O.ELUMELU
MFR GENERAL MANAGING
DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC
HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS
NO 75 AVENUE MARINA 2ND FLOOR
TEL:+234081346780
NIGERIA WEST AFRICA

ATTENTION:HONORABLE BENEFICIARY

I AM MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THIS UNITED BANK OF
AFRICA (UBA) HERE IN NIGERIA WEST AFRICA.THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW UNITED NATION SECRETARY MR. ANTONIO WHO INSTRUCTED
OUR BANK FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE
COMPENSATION FUND FUND WORTH OF $10.500.000.00 MILLION DOLLARS HELD BY
MANY DIFFERENT AUTHORITIES WITHOUT ANY GOOD REASONS.WE ARE WORKING WITH
UNITED STATES FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION (FBI) NETWORK AGENCY TO ARREST
THOSE DUBIOUS FRAUDULENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AS A MATTER OF URGENT,WE ARE DEMANDING YOU TO STOP FURTHER COMMUNICATION
WITH ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE PRESIDENT OF ANY COUNTRY, LEGAL PRACTITIONER
LAWYER OR DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ANY LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN CHARGE OF ANY
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MUST BE IGNORED TOTALLY AND FOLLOW UP LEGITIMATE
INSTRUCTION OF THIS CURRENT GOOD OFFICE TO HANDLE TRANSFER OF FUNDS
DIRECTLY TO YOUR DESTINATION WITHIN FEW HOURS OF WORKING DAY ,DEPENDING ON
YOUR SERIOUSNESS TO FOLLOW UP OUR INSTRUCTION.

OUR FINANCIAL MONITORING UNIT DISCOVERED THAT YOU HAVE REALLY SPENT A LOT
OF MONEY WITHOUT ANY ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS.YOU HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES
TO SENT MUCH MONEY THROUGH MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION TO SECURES ONE
DOCUMENT OR OTHER UNNECESSARY CHARGE FEES IN ORDER TO GET YOUR FUND
WITHOUT ANY GOOD RESULT.WE HAVE MAPPED OUT ABOUT ONE BILLION UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA DOLLARS FOR SETTLEMENT OF FRAUD VICTIMS ACTIVITIES IN GLOBAL
GENERALLY.

LET ME TELL YOU HONESTLY TRUTH THAT I AM IN BETTER POSITION TO HANDLE
THIS ENDLESS TRANSACTION AND I PROMISE TO FINALIZE THIS TRANSACTION WITHIN
SEVEN WORKING DAYS.IF YOU HUMBLY COMPLY WITH OUR BANK MODALITIES TO RELEASE
YOUR FUND SHORTLY.YOU ARE MANDATORY TO INDICATE YOUR WILLINGNESS AND
SERIOUSNESS TO END UP THIS LONG NIGHT MARE TRANSACTION.WE SHALL SEND THE
FUND IN THREE METHODS BY BANK TO BANK TRANSFER,DIPLOMAT AGENT,ATM VISA
CARD.

FILL THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS BELOW:

FULL NAMES:.............................................................

HOME ADDRESS:...........................................................

PHONE
NUMBER:...............................................................

INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT:......................................................

MARITAL
STATUS:.........................................................................

OCCUPATION:.............................................................................

EXPECTED AMOUNT
INVOLVED:.......................................................

BANK ACCOUNT,IF YOU PREFER BANK TO BANK
TRANSFER.....................................

PLEASE,YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO FORWARD YOUR CURRENT NATIONAL ID CARD OR
INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT COPY TO ENABLE US TO IDENTIFY YOU AS TRUE LEGITIMATE
BENEFICIARY OF THIS SAID FUND AS YOU DECLARED.WE ARE VERY SORRY FOR ANY
INCONVENIENCES YOU MAY EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST ADMINISTRATION WITH BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.WE ARE READY TO RENDER YOU A BETTER SERVICE UNTIL ENDING OF THIS
TRANSACTION WITHIN ONE WEEK UNFAILING.WE MUST RELEASE YOUR FUND AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.

THANKS FOR YOUR KIND UNDERSTANDING

YOURS IN SERVICE

DR.TONY O.ELUMELU
MFR GENERAL MANAGING
DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
UNITED BANK OF AFRICA PLC
NIGERIA WEST AFRICA

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam