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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
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.
- +448712370371 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: DAVE AND ANGELA COMPENSATION
<daveandangela9@daveandangeladawes938.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <daveandangela_charitydonation@zbavitu.net>
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 22:21:57 -0800
Subject: OFFICIAL OFFER

UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION
(APPROVED). REGISTERED OFFICE
58 QUEENS-WAYS SUITE 161
LONDON, SW1V 3DW,
UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +448712370371
=

Dear Lucky Winner
=

We are pleased to inform you that my wife and I won the biggest Euro Milli=
ons lottery prize of =A3101,203,600.70 GBP and we just commenced our Charit=
y Donation to give out Fifteen (15) ATM MASTER CARD Worth the sum of =A3500=
,000.00GBP each to five (5) lucky individuals and ten (10) charity organiza=
tions in which you're entitle to withdraw a maximum amount of =A35,000.00GB=
P only Daily in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE from any part of the world. To veri=
fy the genuineness of this email and our winnings, please see our interview=
by visiting the web page below; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics=
/howaboutthat/8820740/101m-lottery-jackpot-winners-Dave-and-Angela-Dawes-to=
-give-millions-to-friends-and-family.html
=

After our meeting with the board of trustees of United Nations and Interna=
tional monetary fund=2019s (IMF) your email address was submitted to my wif=
e and I by the Google Management Team and you received this email because w=
e have listed you as one of the lucky millionaires in this program. For you=
to begin your claim urgently provide the below details to the claim manage=
r Mr. Patrick John as to enable the mandated British Government designated =
Bank, Issue a valid ATM MASTER CARD and the PIN NUMBER worth the sum of =A3=
500,000.00GBP in your name for immediate release to your designated home co=
untry upon the receipt of your details-
=

1. Full Names.
2. Mobile Number.
3. Complete address / State / Country.
4. Age / Sex / Marital Status
5. Occupation.
6. Email ID.
7. And Scanned Copy of Any Valid ID Proof Recognized by the Government of =
your Country for Proof of Ownership.
=

Please be informed that all donation funds must be claimed before 7 days o=
f this notification, Congratulations & Happy Celebrations in Advance
=

Yours Sincerely,
DAVE AND ANGELA DAWES CHARITY COMPENSATION
=20

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam