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. )
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "aust.owen@neu.com.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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: "Rose (WESTERN UNION)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aust.owen@neu.com.cn>
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 02:21:53 -0000
Subject: From Rosemary : Contact Mr Austin A S A P For Your...(Mon, 7 Dec
2009 9:55 AM)

Good Day,

Now we have arranged your payment of USD$900.000.00 Nine Hundred Thousand United State Dollars which is a Grant fund Award from the Ministerial Grant Fund For Voluntary Organizations and foreigners who have been finding it difficult to receive their own Award Grant of our 2007 fiftieth (50) Years independence Anniversary celebration of our Beloved country Ghana , for their commendable Voluntary contributions in distribution of Vaccine to the rural areas during our country fiftieth Years independence Anniversary celebration.

The Ministerial Fund Committee of Ghana in Collaboration with Ministry of Finance Has resolved that your Payment Funds is going to paid to you by issuing you an international certified Bank Draft which is cash able in your bank in your country or by sending your fund to you from the regional pay canter of the western union by which you will be receiving $600.000.00 USD two (2) day interval at your nearest Western Union pay canter. The Director Administrator Trust funds have already signed your payment,

However, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your Payment Mr Austin Owen,E-mail: aust.owen@neu.com.cn Cell: 00233 266644941

Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to
Process your payment: Receiver name_________________
Address_______________________ Country_____________________ Receiving
Address________________________ Tel_______________________

As soon as you send to us your receiving address and any Remittance advice on how you want to receive your fund , we will send your fund or we will finish the endorsement of you name to the draft and send it to you to your designated address . Please be sure that your and address is very good to avoid error or misplacement of your draft .

You are hereby asked to contact Mr Austin Owen for your payment.

Thanks and Regards,

Mrs Rosemary Smith
ADVISER
GHANA MINISTERIAL TRUST FUND (GMTF.(c) 2009)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam