419 scam: "Dr.Lucky David" <uckydavidobah@yahoo.co.nz> Attn:Beneficiary

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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.
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. )
- "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. )
- "payment for the courier" (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
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.
- davidking1@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Lucky David" <uckydavidobah@yahoo.co.nz> (may be fake)
Reply-To: davidking1@sify.com
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:07:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Attn:Beneficiary

Attn:Beneficiary

Due to the problem you are having with the cost of delivering your CHECK
worth $1.2 Million Dollars, Senator David Mark and other members of the
Senate House have met with the FedEx Express Courier Company , American
Express and they have reduced the cost of delivery fee to (85$) USD. Note:
that you are to proceed with the payment as soon as you get this mail using
Western Union Money Transfer Or Money Gram. After confirmation of your
payment your CHECK worth $1.2 Million Dollars, will be delivered to you in
the next 48 hrs Two Working Days.

Note: that the 85$ USD needs to be sent ahead and cannot be deducted from
the prize money, which is according to the bank policies. You can effect
the payment by transfer through WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM which ever is
convenient to the courier companies officer whose details are below:

Receiver First Name : VICTOR
Receiver Last Name : ASSOGBA
RECEIVER ADDRESS/COUNTRY : Benin Republic.
RECEIVER COUNTRY : Cotonou.
TEST QUESTION : COLOR
ANSWER : RED
AMOUNT SENT:85$ USD

After effecting the payment for the courier cost of delivery via western
union money transfer, do well to email me the following,

SENDER NAME :
SENDER ADDRESS/STATE :
AMOUNT PAID:85$ USD
SENDER COUNTRY :
SENDER PHONE NUMBER :
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER (M.T.C.N) :

Please be informed that the Senate Board/Federal Government of Benin
Republic will not take any form of insult, if you know you will not be
able to act to this instruction then i will advise you not to respond
back.

Awaiting your positive response.
Dr.Lucky David
Email:davidking1@sify.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam