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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "abuja" (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.
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.
- matthewevans1990@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From:
"Foreign Payments Reconciliation Exercise(FPRE)" <hennryjjames@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To:
"Foreign Payments Reconciliation Exercise(FPRE)" <natpending@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:28:28 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Foreign Payments Reconciliation Exercise (FPRE)

Â Economic Intelligence Committee (EIC)The Presidency 7th FloorNew Federal Secretariat ComplexPMB 298 Garki-Abuja
The part of an ongoing annual Foreign Payments Reconciliation Exercise (FPRE) This committee was instituted by the Federal Ministry of Finance with a mandate to review cases of pending international payments and make settlements as appropriate. Our investigations reveal That You Have Been through various bureaucratic Difficulties in a bid to secure the release of your funds, Especially it concerns the payment of official charges.
Consequently we advice That You stop further Top communication with any place 'representative concern- same, We know your' representative here Nigeria or anywhere will advise you to still go ahead with Them, Which will be on your own risk, if you proceed with Them.
The it is evident That You Have met the requirements. An initial sum of USD15,500,000.00 (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) only will be paid to you the part of your pending payment. Please contact Matthew Evans (CFR) of Nigeria UBA (United bank for Africa) email <matthewevans1990@yahoo.com.hk> shouldnt you please re-confirm These details for purposes of verification.
1) Full Name ....................2) Contact Address ..............3) Telephone ....................4) Fax number is direct communication .........
Note que this is the second and late notice on this subject. Your USD15,500,000.00 (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) only will reflect in your nominated Bank Account Within three Bank working days.
Yours sincerely.
Public Relations,Economic Intelligence Committee,In Conjunction With AbujaEmail: natpending@yahoo.com.hkCC: The Manager,Matthew EvansOperating OfficerUnited Bank forAfricaLagos NigeriaEmail: matthewevans1990@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam