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:
- "clearance 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. )
- ",000,000" (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)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +2347039451315 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- mrscarmanlapointe517@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Carman Lapointe Young <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: mrscarmanlapointe517@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:46:14 +0300 (IDT)
Subject: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT
SERVICES

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES

This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from
London,after series of complains from the FBI and other
Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica,South
America and the United States of America respectively, against
the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government
for the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations.

I have met with President Dr Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and
some other top concerned banks officials here in Nigeria who
claimed that they have been trying their best to make sure you
receive your fund in your account.

Right now,as directed by our secretary general Mr.Ban
Ki-Moon,We are working in collabo rations with the Nigerian
Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and have
decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and
authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of
your compensation of an amount of (US$10,000,000,00) approved
by both the British government and the UN into your account
without any delay.The only fee you will pay to confirm your
fund in your account,is your Notarization fee to the UN.Get
back to us with your banking information,

Full Names:.
Country:.
Direct Number:
Bank Name:
Bank Address:
Bank Acct:
Routing Number:
Swift Code:
Email:

Sincerely,you are a lucky person because I have just
discovered that some top Nigerian and British Government
Officials are interested in our fund and they are working in
collaboration with One Mr.Richard Graves from USA to frustrate
you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal
account. Since my stay here in Nigeria, i have been holding
series of meetings which makes it difficult for me to answer
your calls, but you can call my assistant Mr. Sandy Williams
who came to Nigeria with me, on the number which I just
acquired in Nigeria today: +234-7039451315.

I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would
like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can
advise you on how best to confirm your fund in your account
within the next 72 hours.

Reply through this Email address only:
mrscarmanlapointe517@yahoo.com.ph
Phone: +234-7039451315

Mrs. Carman Lapointe-Young.
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Int ernal Oversight Services.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam