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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- ",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)
- "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.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- offcefill1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Rebeca George," <oceanicbank79@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Rebeca George," <offcefill1@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2015 08:27:00 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: From the Desk of Mrs.Rebeca George, Treasury Department,
International Wire Transfers, Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic.

Greetings And Compliments.

I am Mrs.Rebeca George, the Chair-person in charge of Treasury Department, International wire transfersof Benin Republic Federal Ministry of Finance. This is to inform you that your fund was brought to my desk because the Director & Management of the WESTERN UNION & MONEYGRAM TRANSFER have declared to divert your fund to the Government Treasury Account just because you could not pay the wire transfer fee. In reasoning wisely to their complain, I asked them to wait until I hear from you so that I will know the reason why you decided to reject such amount of money $2,500,000.00 which is your rightful & legal over due inheritance payment just because of transfer fee.

The reason why I sent this email to you is that it's your sweat and for this reason you still have this last chance amd right to claim your fund if you can send $45.00 today for Certificate of Claim. I have already arranged your wires ready for its daily wires to you but failing to do this, I will allow them to have power over your fund and I am very sorry if you fail as this is the last chance.

Furthermore, send the $45.00 immediately you receive this email today and email your full name and address to me if you want your $2,500,000.00 to be sent to you by Western Union or Money Gram Transfer but the maximum amount officially allowed to send to you per day wire is $7,500.00 per day until you receive your complete $2,500,000.00 from here. The second option is for you to send me the full detail of your bank account if you want your fund to be fully-transferred by Direct Bank to Bank Wire Transfer to your account at once. After you have sent the $45.00 and email me the MTCN and Sender's Name, you are to indicate your wish to receive your funds as I have stated above and the funds will be released to you without any hitch.

Below is the information in the name of my accountant to avoid delay in receiving your fund and remember that I have done my best for you and I will make sure that your wire will begin to be released to you from the moment you send this $45.00:

Receivers Name: Dean Molu
Pay-Out Country: Benin Republic
Pay-Out City: Cotonou
Test Question: Honest
Answer: Trust.
Amount to send: $45.00
SEND MTCN:
SEND THE SENDER'S NAME:

Send it and email the MTCN/control number, amount sent, name and address of sender to me for easy collection and once again remember to reply through this my official email address: offcefill1@yahoo.com

Thank you,
Mrs.Rebeca George,
Treasury Department, International Wire Transfers,
Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam