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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
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.
- raymondpascalmorgan@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR./MRS. ADRIAN BAYFORD CHARITY DONATION PROGRAM"
<herbertsmith132@gmail.com>
Reply-To: herbertsmith@outlook.com
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2015 20:47:55 -0500
Subject: Dear Beneficiary!!!

--
Good day!

You might be surprised to receive this mail because we have not met
before and am afraid many things are happening on the internet, but this
is the only way I can thank God for what he did for me and my family,
and also to help others. I am Adrian Bayford, I and my wife won
Â£148,000,000.00 GBP in Euromillion Jackpot Draw. We have decided to
donate One Million Pounds (Â£1,000,000.00 GBP) to you as part of our
charity project to help you and your community, your email was given to
us by Google management as one of the lucky recipients to this charity
donation program after balloting.

Congratulations to you and your Family.

Please visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19254228 for more
information and reply with your

Full Name
Residential Address
City/State
Marital Status
Sex
Date of Birth
Country
Occupation
Mobile Number
Tel. Number, to

Bar. Herbert Smith (Esq.)
E-mail: raymondpascalmorgan@gmail.com

Best Regards,
Mr./Mrs. Adrian Bayford
God Bless You.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam