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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "m.jimny-bernand@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "m.jimny-bernand@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Major Jimmy Bernand <patrickarlu@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: m.jimny-bernand@qq.com
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2014 01:49:59 +0430
Subject: Highly Confidential Letter From Camp MXP-512 Third Infantry Division
Unit(T.I.D.U),Kabul Afghanistan.

Dear Friend,

I sincerely apologize for intruding into your privacy, especially by
contacting you through these means for a business proposal of this
magnitude. My names is Major Jimmy Bernand, a U.S. Army Currently at
Afghanistan for peace keeping. I have summed up courage to contact you.

I am seeking your kind assistance to receive the sum of ( $ 50 million U.S
Dollars ) Fifty million, United States Dollars on my behalf., as far as I
can be assured that my share will be safe in your care until I complete my
service here in next three months time.

The question is can I trust you? Am really in need of a good partner
someone i can trust to actualize this venture. The money is from oil
proceeds and legal. But am transferring it via the safe passage way of a
diplomatic courier without any risk or any string attached. If you are
agreeable get yourself a deal and contact me on my email address:
m.jimny-bernand@qq.com,

Once you receive the funds, keep low social profile and take an awesome
reward of 30% and custody my share for further evaluation on whether you
are good enough in assessment to invest my share when i review your
business proposal. Am seek your confidentiality in this business
transaction and await your response as i wish to furnish you with more
comprehensive details and what is required of you.

I await your urgent reply.

Yours Buddy,
Major Jimmy Bernand.
Camp MXP-512 Third Infantry Division Unit(T.I.D.U),Kabul Afghanistan.
Contact Email address: m.jimny-bernand@qq.com,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam