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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:

Fraud email example:

From: Rev Zima Luis <ecco2222@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westerntm565@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2011 08:56:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: The Government has given you till Wednesday next week




We want to use this medium to inform you that the Benin  Government are not happy with your inability to claim your fund. Do to your lukewarm attitude.

The Government has given you till Wednesday next week to make the required payment or you forfeit your fund. It is certainly unfortunate that your fund will be transfer to the Government account as unclaimed fund.

I hereby advise you to proceed to Western Union office or money gram in your area and make the required payment immediately to enable you start receiving your money today.

We have re-programmed your MTCN to enable you pick up your first payment, but without the required fees, we will not release your MTCN to you.

Your money has been insured to its full value and is protected with hardcover insurance policy, which make it impossible to deduct any cent from you total money before it is remitted to you. so the required charges will not be deducted,as an internal security measure to protect beneficiaries from under-payments arising from such deductions by our officials.

Below is the information you will use to send us the required fees Via western union.
 
Name:  OGUGUA UCHENNA
Country: Benin Republic
City:  Cotonou
Code:  229
Question: GOOD
Answer:  GOOD.
Amount: $85
MTCN_______

You will be able to pickup your first money today as soon as we receive the required payment.

Call for confirmation of receipt of this message on: +229 98221 999

Rev Zima Luis.

Anti-fraud resources: