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.
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.
- +22998687683 (Benin, probably a 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.
- manager.office20@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Stephen Ali" <stephenali700@yahoo.com.sg> (may be fake)
Reply-To: stephenali29@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 08:26:12 -0500
Subject: your ATM VISA CARD by FECOM bank has be deposited to ship to your
address.

ATTN CLIENT,

This is to bring to your notice that your ATM VISA CARD valued of $4.5m
usd has been deposited with UPS delivery Service on 10/11/2013 for your
delivery, Therefore; You're advised to contact UPS delivery company
Manager immediately with your delivery address and phone number to enable
your Visa Card post instantly to your address without any delay. Note that
your parcel was deposited with Telex security company as to insured that
the parcel will be secure till it get to your address.
Here is their contact information of the Manager below;

UPS OFFICE;NO.Rue 112 pd Koutengbe, Porto-novo, Benin Rep.
CONTACT PERSON;MR.John Chimu
PHONE:+229-98687683
E-MAIL: manager.office20@yahoo.fr

Note that i have paid all the delivery fees but the only fee you will pay
to them again is $35 per day for their accommodation fee, authomatically;
you must ask them where to send the $35 usd to enable your parcel move
immediately contacting the company, I would have been paid it but due to,
I did not know the exact time you will answer them, then I left it as I
know that it would also not be much for you to pay. Finally, remember to
notify me on what will be the final conclusion after reading this mail.

Thanks
DR Stephen Ali

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam