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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "lagos" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. DOMINIC JAY" <dhlexpress5@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <wu2014@chat.org>
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 16:20:48 +0100
Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?HERE_IS_TH?= =?Windows-1252?Q?E_INFORMAT?=
=?Windows-1252?Q?ION=92S_OF_T?= =?Windows-1252?Q?HE_$2=2C000.?=
=?Windows-1252?Q?00_YOUR_FI?= =?Windows-1252?Q?RST_PAYMEN?=
=?Windows-1252?Q?T?=

Attn:

Yes, it is true that you were sent a payment of $2,000.00
according to an instruction from the ministry of finance Lagos-Nigeria which indicates that we should be sending to you daily payment
of $2,000.00 everyday till you complete your total amount which is
$1.5M USD.

We have finally sent you the first installment payment of $2,000.00
but be rest assured that without fulfilled the necessary obligations you
can not pick the money from western union because, you have not
fulfilled the necessary obligations of your transfer. Be informed that
your funds was on hold by us due to an instruction from (IMF) Office
International Monetary Fund they told us to placed the fund on hold, by
required the Approval Tax Clearance Certificate of your funds will
cost $65.00 to issue on your name file payments from IMF to proof legal
transfer

Meanwhile, Once you send the fee of Clearance payments of your
file payment which is $65.00 We will remit another payment on your name
and send all the payment details so that you will be able to pick up
your fund from any western union location around in your country After
you payment for the $65.00 okay.

Here is the information’s of the $2,000.00 your first payment

MTCN NUMBER::::::::::575-220-2045
SNDERS NAME::::::::::DOMINIC JAY
TEST QUESTION ::::::::::: WHEN
ANSWER …::::::::::TODAY
AMOUNT…:::::::::$2,000.00

Here is the information to send the $65.00 today.

RECEIVERS NAME:====ONYIA PRINCE
COUNTRY:=======NIGERIA
CITY=============LAGOS
TEST QUESTION:=======GOD
ANSWER: ===========BLESS
AMOUNT:===========$65.00 USD

SENDER NAME ===========
MTCN NUMBER===========

Furthermore,
we are to be sending you $2000.00 per day until the total amount of your
money which is $1.5USD is completely transfer to you as instructed by the Ministry of Finance Lagos-Nigeria

Contact email: {wu2014@chat.org}
Best Regards
MR. DOMINIC JAY.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam