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:

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. )
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Foreign Remittance (Bank Of America)"
<info.atmremittancedepartm@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:43:29 +0400
Subject: APPROVAL FUND--

My Greetings to you ,

We receive the email, Please note that your fund is $200.000.00Usd, you
have to have tis code for withdrawing this morning Code: FB25485452USD, you
have to forward us your banking address and their phone numbers so that as
soon as we receive the fee of $33 to activate the code for withdrawing this
morning, your chooseing bank will call you to pay you out this morning,
Please note that this bank need your banking details and your direct
telephone numbers too, so that we can get your transfer done. and please
note that you have to send your banking details together with the transfer
charges of $33 by today, so you have to make sure that you attach us your
Id card so that we can get every things done by today without any further
delay again. Pleease note that you are advice to send the require fee of
$33 with the below details by Western Union Or by Money Gram only:

Receives Name:--------Ifeanyi Chukwu John
Country:--------- Benin Republic
City/state:--------- Cotonou.
Question:--------- What Color?
Answer:-------- -Blue
Amount:--------- $33
MTCN:---------

Please try all you can to send me the payment details today as soon as you
send the requested fee of $33 today so that we can finishup the transfer by
today without any further delay again. N/B: Please dont forget to send us
your full account details this morning so that we can proceed immediately,
Please note that we will get all transfer done today been 01/06/2011, so
you have to try all you can to see that you send this fee by today without
any further delay again.

Waiting to hear from you soon.
Thank you ,
Dr. Destiny Mike
Senior manager, Foreign Remittance (Bank Of America

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam