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:

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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: test <officem7535@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: johnmark@e-mail.ua
Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:12:47 +0100
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?NOTIFICATION_OF_PAYMENT_BY_ATM_MASTER_CREDIT_CARD?=
=?utf-8?Q?=E2=80=8F?=

DIRECTOR,FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT,
United Bank for Africa Group(UBA)
Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Attn:beneficiary

We hereby officially notify you about the present arrangement to pay you your over due contract/inheritance funds which you could not complete the process of the released of your transfer pin code through the Digitized Payment System. We have decided to pay your funds without any requested fee but through (ATM Master Express Credit Card or Bank to Bank Transfer) This arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank and Paris Club, due to fraudulent activities going on within the world.

The World Bank and Paris Club introduced this payment arrangement as to enable our contractors/inheritance beneficiary to receive their funds without any interference. the ATM Master Express Credit Card was contracted and powered by GOLD CARD WORLD WIDE.

Reconfirm the following information to us for security reasons:

1)YOUR FULL NAMES:
2)YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.
3)YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:
4)YOUR PROFESSION:

Upon the receipt of this information we are going to credit your funds into the Master Express Credit Card or make a transfer to you by bank transfer and send a scanned copy of the card to you before we will proceed to dispatch the card directly to your nominated mailing address.

So you absolutely have nothing to worry about as all we need is your prompt response and co-operation. Contact the ATM CARD department

Contact person: Mr. John Mark.
Email to contact : johnmark@e-mail.ua
Alternative email: johnmark390@cpll.cn

CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.

BEST REGARDS,
Miss Ruth Tony
United Bank for Africa Group(UBA)
DIRECTOR,FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT,
Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam