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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: "DR. FRANK GODWIN." <fileoffice3277@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: moneygramonline800@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 7 May 2012 03:44:38 -0400
Subject: RE,MONEY GRAM is now offering a Special BONUS to help all our customers

MONEY GRAM INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER

REPUBLIC OF BENIN HEAD OFFICE COTONOU.

PHONE/FAX: (229) 99-790-541  EMAIL: moneygramonline800@gmail.com

                          FUND TRANSFER OF $7000.00 USD.

DEAR: CLIENT,

INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS NOW, STATING THAT YOU
ONLY HAVE 48HOURS TO SEND PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR PAYMENT MTCN TO
ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $7000.00USD FROM YOUR TOTAL (FUND)
SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO PAY THE AMOUNT REQUESTED EARLIER.

NOW WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT
HAND FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED
SUM AND THERE IS NO TIME LEFT.

CONTACT US WITH THIS EMAIL (moneygramonline800@gmail.com) YOU ARE TO PAY ANY
AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT HAND FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE NOW. WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN
ONCE WE RECEIVE THIS PAYMENT.

BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR ACTIVATION ONCE
YOU CASH YOUR FIRST $7000.00 USD. ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU
THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION THAN TO
DEACTIVATE YOUR MTCN AND YOU WILL NEVER CASH UP THE REMAINING PAYMENT BALANCE.

NOW SEND THE RENEWING AND TRANSFER FEE WITH THIS INFORMATION BELLOW:

1. RECEIVER NAME:............. MR. MMA PRINCE  
2. CITY/COUNTRY:.............. COTONOU-REPUBLIC Of BENIN.
4. QUESTION:.........HONEST.
5. ANSWER:..........TRUST.
6. AMOUNT ..........SEND ANY AMOUNT AT YOUR HAND NOW.

SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND ONCE WE CONFIRM THE
FEE, WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST PAYMENT TRANSFER OF YOUR ($7,000.00) THE SAME
DAY AND NOT TOMORROW.

REGARDS,

DR. FRANK GODWIN.
OPRATION MANAGER.
MONEY GRAM PAYMENT DEPT.
PHONE/FAX: (229) 99790541
EMAIL: moneygramonline800@gmail.com 

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