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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "security keeping 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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "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)
- "cheque " (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. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024094997 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Emilly Abery Keith <emilyjackman@activist.com>
Reply-To: dhl.expressuk0@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:11:15 +0200
Subject: Contact The Security Department: Security Keeping Code: (xxx/5678/dhl) Read
Carefully

Greetings Beloved,

I am sure this mail would be coming to you as a surprise since we have
never met before and you would also be asking why I have decided to choose
you amongst the numerous internet users in the world. I come in peace. Just
carefully read and digest the message below.

I am Mother Emily Abery Keith, 87 Years old woman and the wife of Late Sir
Abery Keith who died in a Plane crash on Monday the 7th of September 1998
GMT 14:22 UK while they were flying from New York to Geneva.

Please see site below for more information.
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html

After the death of my husband I became the Head of his investment and now
I am old. Presently, I have willed out almost half of our assets to several
charity homes/less privilege in different countries. I and my husband also
agreed to render support to an unknown individual we have not met before
due to the fact that when we were still young in life we received an
anonymous help from an
individual we did not know and which we have not
being able to know till date.

Three weeks ago I deposited a cheque in the sum of Â£5,800,000.00 British
Pound with DHL DELIVERY COMPANY to deliver to you upon your contact with
them, but I was unable to notify you timely because of my ill health,
Contact the COMPANY as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your
package to you because of the expiring date on the cheque.

I have paid the delivering cost, the Insurance premium and clearance
Certificate fee. The only money you are expected to pay is Â£250 British
Pounds for the Security Keeping of the cheque for three weeks. I would have
paid the fee but the company insisted that I should not because they don't
know when you will be contacting them and to avoid further cost.

Contact Person: Mr. Micheal Heilman

Email Address: security.dhl@blumail.org

Tel: +44 702 409 4997

You are to reconfirm the below information to them to avoid any mistake on
the Delivery and ask them to
provide you with the method they wish to use
in receiving their accrued security keeping fee of Â£250 British Pounds for
their immediate action.

1. Postal address:
2. Full Names:
3. Direct telephone number:

Security Keeping Code: (xxx/5678/dhl)

Good Luck
Mrs. Emily Abery Keith

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam