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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

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. )
  • "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. )
  • "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. )
  • "money transfer control number" (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 united states 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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 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.
  • jerry.nana20004@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • jerry.nana20004@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Richard Figurski <richard_fig2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <jerry.nana20004@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 15:22:16 +0000
Subject: Your Transfer Has Been Made



Attnt Beneficiary,


Based on the instruction passed to this Western Union department from the office of the Governor of the Central Bank, a total sum of USD$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars only) Each, has been instructed to be paid to all the people that there funds transfer were stopped withheld or confiscated at the Ecowas office from any of the African Countries

According to the explanations made, the Central Bank of the Country of Origin of your fund and the Government, have decided to take over the issue of your transfer, to save you from all wire transfer problems you where facing previously
This is to help us check-mate all the Fraudulent activities going on here in West Africa at large. You shall be paid bit by bit until your total sum is completely received right from the Counter of any Western Union closest to you.

We have been asked to release to you a total of US$7,000.00 in every Seven Hours (7hours) until the funds is completely paid, as that is the maximum limit we are legally allowed to pay in a particular transaction.
After the failure in the transfer of your fund through other means which may have been made impossible by the European, American or British high commission and other bodies, I was ordered from the office of the President and the Central Bank Of Ghana to make your payment swiftly via this medium, you will be receiving $7.000 usd every seven hours,from the below MTCN number till your payment is completed.
The Following is the Western Union Money Control Number(MTCN): 8440218020


For verification Kindly visit our official web site www.westernunion.com
Find TRACKING on the top right of the site page,and kindly insert accordingly this detail Hugh John Taylor and 8440218020
following the instructions bellow
Money Transfer Control Number:8440218020

Sender First Name: Richard Sender Last Name:Figurski
Check Status
AND CLICK ON CHECK STATUS

Contact Mr. Jerry Nana Immediately.(AT)
Contact Name: Jerry Nana
Email: jerry.nana20004@yahoo.com
Email: jerry.nana20004@gmail.com
Phone: +233241865281
He is in charge of your transfer. Give him your full receivers names for the payment and an activation fee of $50 only for the names to be activated to the mtcn number you already have, The required fee should be sent through Western Union. Upon the receipt of the $50, your receivers name will be activated to enable you receive your first installment payment of $7,000 immediately. Send the $50 payment information to us through this email. Note: You can not be able to start picking up the money until your Name is activated to the system.

The Receivers Information For The $50 is as follows:


Receivers name: Victor Demion
Address: Accra Ghana
Text Question: Favorite Colour?
Answer: Blue
Amount To be sent:..$50..
MTCN.................
senders name:....your name...
senders address:....your address...
Immediately he receives the payment, we shall activate your name to enable you start receiving your payment immediately. Please Note:,this control number(8440218020) should be kept very safe and secret for your own security,to avoid someone else tampering with you funds.
Call Mr. Jerry Nana immediately on his direct phone: +233241865281 for more Details and directives.


We Congratulate you in Advance.

Mr. Richard Figurski
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam