419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "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)
- "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: FEDERAL RESERVE BANKING SYSTEM USA <info.federalreservebnkbjj@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 12:47:13 +0200
Subject: APPROVAL PAYMENT RELEASE 2011 FEDERAL RESERVE BANKING SYSTEM U.S.A
FEDERAL RESERVE BANKING SYSTEM U.S.A MR. DAVID HARRISON Director, Foreign
Operations International Transfer Department WASHINGTON DC UNITED STATE.
Telephone: 202-239-6674

*FEDERAL RESERVE BANKING SYSTEM U.S.A*
*MR. DAVID HARRISON *
*Director, Foreign Operations *
*International Transfer Department *
*WASHINGTON DC UNITED STATE. *
*Telephone: 202-239-6674*
**
* ** *
*APPROVAL PAYMENT RELEASE 2011 FEDERAL RESERVE BANKING SYSTEM U.S.A *
* *
*Congratulations!! *
* *
*ATTENTION .*
* *
*Thank you for our telephone conversation now, as advised we intend to
provide you with our unparallel services by maintaining the scope allocated
to us in the release of your total amount payment of $2,300,000.00 only. *
*
Please be advised that the current situation surrounding your payment, is
one as such can be termed as being very sensitive and is presently
undergoing an internal security caution under the supervision of the
International Banking and Finance Securities.*
*
Note that claim is currently being verified in order to determine it’s
authenticity before payment will be effected. As we conclude the
verification process. *
*
To put the record straight, we have verified and approved your payment to be
transferred from the United nation and European union corresponding account
with Federal Reserve Bank in Washington to your nominated bank account as it
is mandatory by Act 601 Section 051 of the U S A finance Ministry authority
after meeting up with the international transfer statutory fee of $72 only
to Federal Reserve Bank for the ministry of Justice account Authentication.
Please note that you are advice to send the fee by western union or money
gram with the below details: PAID LONG AGO AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY
FUNDS TO REACH MY ACCOUNT FROM WASHINGTON DC OR NEW YORK. NO FURTHER
PAYMENTS ALLOWED TO BENIN REP. OR NIGERIA BY FBI AND THE EFCC IN BOTH
COUNTRIES..*
*NO MORE SCAMMING OR STALLING!! IS THAT CLEAR!!!*
*
Sender's Name:-----
Receiver's Name: John I. Chukwu
Text Question: What for?
Answer: Transfer*
*City/Country: Cotonou Benin Republic.
MTCN:----
Amount: $72*
* *
*Please note that as soon as you send the fee, kindly forward us the
MTCN/Question and Answer/ senders name, so that we can process your transfer
by today without any further delay again. *
*With the agreement we had with the entire organization holding any
international payment to pay you your complete total amount we will not
entertain any kind of interference from any body whatsoever to represent you
in any way because most of these local representative use to mislead and at
time misinform beneficiaries and make them lose a lot of money and also
delay them to be paid. *
*
So at this time we will only deal with you directly to make sure that you
receive your total amount money in time and we are very much obliged to
inform you that your payment will release to you as soon as possible. *
*
We do hereby give this irrevocable approval order with Release Code:
GNC/3480/02/00 in your favor for your contract entitlement/award winning
payment with the Federal Reserve Bank. *
*
Now your new Payment Approval No; FR5685P, White House Approved No: WH44CV,
Reference No.-35460021, Allocation No: 674632, Password No: 339331, Pin Code
No: 55674 and your Certificate of Merit Payment No: 103, Released Code No:
0763; Immediate Release Telex confirmation No: -1114433; Secret Code No:
XXTN013.
*
**
**
*Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Yours Faithfully *
**
**
*Mr. David Harrison *
*
**202-239-6674 *

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam