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:
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (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: "DR.YATER WILLIAM" <soffice61@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "DR.YATER WILLIAM" <westernuniontransfer309@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 10:45:38 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FOLLOW UP THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BELOW BECAUSE AFTER OUR MEETING
HELD WITH THE FBI,UNITED NATION, BOARD DIRECTORS OF WESTERN UNION AND
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THEY FINALIZE THAT YOU HAVE ONLY 48HOURS GIVEN
TO RECEIVE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5,000 USD FROM

Â FOLLOW UP THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BELOW BECAUSE AFTER OURMEETING HELD WITH THE FBI,UNITED NATION, BOARD DIRECTORS OF WESTERN UNIONAND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THEY FINALIZE THAT YOU HAVEONLY 48HOURS GIVEN TO RECEIVE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5,000 USD FROM

THE TOTAL FUNDSWHICH IS (4.8M) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THISPAYMENT, WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAYWHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR THE FEES SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THEREQUIRED SUM of 200 usd.
OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE WARN YOU TO STOP FURTHERCOMMUNICATION/DEALING WITH ANY BANKS THAT HAVE NO WEBSITE DUE TO FRAUD GOING ONWORLDWIDE. ANY BANKS THAT IS CONTACTING YOU WITHOUT WEBSITE ISFAKE.PLEASE VIEW OUR WEBSITE NOW :http://WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM.
THEREFORE GO STRAIGHT NOW AND PAY ANY AMOUNT AS FROM $95 UP FOR THEFEES TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR PAYMENT THAT IS PLACE ON HOLDBY THE MANAGEMENT AND BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THEBALANCE SUM OF YOUR FEES UPON CASHING UP OF YOUR FIRST 5,000:00 USD,ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THEBALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION BUT TO CANCEL YOUR TRANSFER ANDCAN NEVER CASH UP THE BALANCE SUM.
HERE IS THE INFORMATION OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BUT IT ISPLACE ON HOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT AND YOU CAN NOT BE ABLE TO PICK UP UNTILYOU SEND THE DEMAND WHICH IS ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE, JUST TOPROVE HOW SERIOUS YOU ARE.
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=BJSENDER FIRST NAME::::::::::::::::::: JOHNSENDER LAST NAME:::::::::::::::::::: OGUGUAMTCN::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 744-506-0256TEXT QUESTION::::::::::::::::::::::HONEST?TEXT ANSWER:::::::::::::::::::5,000.00 USD
FOR YOUR INFORMATION DO NOT EXPECT THE RELEASING OF YOURPAYMENT WITHOUT SENDING THE MONEY REQUIRED AND REMEMBER THAT YOU AREGIVEN ONLY 24HOURS TO COMPLY OR YOUR TRANSFER WILL BE CANCELIMMEDIATELY SINCE YOU ARE TOLD TO SEND ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE INORDER TO HELP YOU.BELOW IS OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER NAME WHICH YOU WILLUSE TO SEND WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO ENABLE US RELEASE YOUR FIRST PAYMENTIMMEDIATELY.
1.RECEIVER NAME:....... EMEKA MMAD2.COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC3.CITY :............... COTONOU .4..TEST QUESTION:.....A?5.TEST ANSWER:......B.6.AMOUNT ...........ANY
SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY ANDIMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL RELEASE YOUR FIRSTPAYMENT $5000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW
REGARDS DR.YATER WILLIAM FROM THEHEAD OFFICE OF WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC FOR YOUR PAYMENT
DR.YATER WILLIAMGENERAL OPERATION MANAGER.VITAL FINANCEWESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT Â Â

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam