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:
- "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. )
- "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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK <interl.departm2@skymail.ro>
Reply-To: <interl.departm2@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:30:06 +0200
Subject: Recovery Atm Card Charges is $44 =?UTF-8?Q?only=5F=5FExpiry=20dat?=
=?UTF-8?Q?e=3A=20=33=31st=20July=2C=20=32=30=31=32?=

--

International Bankinging Group
Benin Republic-Cotonou
Cable address bhrf2
Swift no hgrd-bj1
Kind attention,

Our records indicate that a credit in the amount of $1.200.000.00
exists in
our records for transfer to your position . We have been requested to
advice to you that the following funds is a avalable by ATM CARD.
our advice number : 2145863485
Advice date: 3rd July, 2012.
Atm card Issue bank date Ref : 2577 /HU /26595
Expiry date: 31st July, 2012
*****Amount**** USD ****1.200.000.00.

Do confirm if you had authorised such application to release the funds
to-her, and if she is indeed your representative. She applied with the
banking details below: Name: Janet Ralpher Bank name: Washington Mutual
Bank address: 19507 interstate 45 south spring, tx 77388, Usa Account
number: 4212432927 Routing number: 111993776 My duty is to notify the
beneficiaries listed on the payment manifest andoversee that they are
rightly guided to receive their payment, But i refuse, I told her till
i am
confuse. she said that she called you yesterday, and you told her that
the
only thing holding your Atm card is the recovery fee. That is the
reason
why i am contacting you, so that as soon as i hear from you i will know
if
it is turth or lie. Please let me know this point.

Atm card and documents issued number 25412566 shipment from : Benin
Republic for collection by the above beneficary for payment programed
under
Recovery Atm Card Charges is $44 only. Send the charges fee $44 by
western
union with the Below details: please send the money with the below
information via western union or money gram only with the below
information:

Senders Name-----
Recivers name---- Jona Uzoma Simple
Destination country --- Benin Republic
City and state -- Cotonou
Zip code --- +229
Question:----What for?
Answer:---Recovery
Amount: $44
MTCN--------
Senders Address--------
Senders Telephone #--------

At the confirmation of the request fee, shipment will be deuly honored
by
today without any further delay again. Please do comply now for the
final
releasement of your package today, you may loose your Atm card or you
may
gain it today. Please do send us the Mtcn as well as other informations
required

Waiting to hear from you soon.

Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Peter Williams/ Wilfred Prosper
ATM Security and Fraud department
African International Bank of Settlemen

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam