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. )
- "clearance document" (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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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: "ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK (Foreign Operation Dept)"
<interl.departm2@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:55:07 +0400
Subject: ATM & Package at Orlando Florida Airport right now.

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email and we receive the informations you send to
us, we which to inform you that your Atm card was sent to your destination
address, and right now i just receive a call from Usa, city florida, and
they said that they are from custom office, they are the one holding your
Atm package, the said that you dont have custom clearance document, and i
ask them the cost of the document and they said that the cost is $37 (US$)
and i ask them that as soon as you send this fee to us and we will confirm
it to them there in florida will the Atm card package release to you in the
next 3hours and the accepted to release it to you by today without any
further delay again. Send the money via western union or Money gram with
the name of the custom directors informations.

Senders Name:----
Recivers name:----Sampson Akushie
Country:--- Benin Republic
City:-- Cotonou
Question:----who is our savior?
Answer:--The Lord Jesus
MTCN:--------
Amount:--$37 (US$)

Send the money via western union money transfer or money gram and forward
the payment informations to us for easier pick up. You have to call the
delivery agent to confirm that your package is there. AGENT NAME: Paul
George. Tele: +1 206-426-6305. Fax: +1 206-426-6017. So the Information
you are Required to Reconfirm us the Follow:

(1)Your Full Name=============
(2)Mobile Phone Number======
(3)Current Home Address========
(4)Fax Number================
(5)Country====================
(6)City======================
(7)Nearest Airport ==============as he is at Orlando Florida Airport right
now because of the Searching and Scanning of the Consignment which made him
to misplace your address
(8)A Copy of Your I D For Identification.

Please note that the custom office there in florida said that you have
only today to send the fee so you have to try all you can to see that you
do that today and call me or i will call you for the MTCN. and please
reconfirm us your home address so that there will be no erro again.

I will be waiting for your reply.

Best regards,
Mr. Williams Peter.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam