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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- sarvicesups@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: CHUCKS MALICK <chucksmalick13@msn.com>
Reply-To: <sarvicesups@yahoo.es>
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 23:57:12 +0000
Subject: Urgent Delivery of your ATM Card Payment Through UPS Courier
Delivery

ATTN MY DEAR
THIS IS TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT I HAVE REGISTERED YOUR ATM-MASTER CARD WITH THE UPS COURIER COMPANY. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE YOU PROVED ABORTIVE, I DECIDED TO REGISTER YOUR $500,000 FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD (ATM-MASTER CARD) WITH UPS COURIER COMPANY.
THE DELIVERY CHARGES HAS BEEN PAID BUT I DID NOT PAY THEIR OFFICIAL SECURITY KEEPING FEES SINCE THEY REFUSED. REASONS FOR THEIR REFUSAL WAS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO CONTACT THEM BECAUSE THE KEEPING FEE IS $68,DOLLARS PER DAY.
I DEPOSITED IT TODAY 9TH, JANUARY 2012,THAT IS REASON WHY I DID NOT PAY THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE. YOU ARE TO CONTACT THEM NOW TO AVOID INCREASE OF THEIR KEEPING FEE FOR THE IMMEDIATE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM-MASTER CARD AND SEND TO THEM THE $68, WITH THIS INFORMATION BELLOW THROUGH WESTERN UNION.
CONTACT RECEIVER PERSON:..... YUNUSA ADAMU LUCKYRECEIVER COUNTRY:... BENIN REPUBLICADDRESS:...........RUE 54022 SODJATIER STREET 114 BENIN REPUBLICTEXT QUESTION:.....HONESTTEXT ANSWER:......TRUSTAMOUNT:.........$68MTCN NUMBER__________
AND THEIR CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS:( sarvicesups@yahoo.es )
THIS ARE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR EASY DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM-MATER CARD. 1.YOUR FULL NAME_____ 2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS______ 3.YOUR HOME OR CELL NUMBER____
PLEASE, KINDLY CONTACT THEM NOW AND SEND THE NEEDED $68,WITH YOUR DELIVERY INFORMATION SO THAT THEY CAN URGENTLY SEND YOU THE TRACKING NUMBER OF YOUR ATM CARD TO KNOW THE ARRIVAL DATE, INFORM ME AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR CARD OK.
BEST REGARD AND GOD BLESSMR.CHUCKS MALICK

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam