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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "required fee " (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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- a.ericleonard@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Eric Leonard" <sejong@miraebd.net>
Reply-To: a.ericleonard@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2015 15:44:47 -0000
Subject: I Have Arrived at Nashville International Airport (TN) With Your ATM
Visa Card

Hello, Good Day

PLEASE, I EXPECT YOU TO TEXT OR CALL ME ONCE YOU READ MY EMAIL. MY USA
PHONE NUMBER: (865) 366 5652

My name is EVG. Eric Leonard. I am a certified diplomatic agent working
under Post Office, Priority Mail Express Benin Republic. I am the Courier
agent in-charge for the delivery of your United Nations and Government
approved inheritance Compensation funds loaded in your ATM Visa Card worth
the total sum of US$10,500,000.00 (Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand
USD). According to the Bank that issued your ATM Visa Card from Benin
Republic, the United Bank for Africa, you will be making a maximum daily
withdrawal of US$20,000 (Twenty Thousand Dollars) from your ATM Visa Card
on daily basis. I came all the way from Benin Republic and I am currently
stranded with your ATM Visa Card at Nashville International Airport
Tennessee (TN). I misplaced your delivery information that was given to me
by the Company (Regular Mail Post Office) during the scanning and
clearance section at the Airport just few hours ago. Kindly endeavor to
reconfirm your full delivery address and your phone number to me to avoid
wrong delivery of your valuable Visa Card:

Your Full Name:
Current Delivery Address:
Private Telephone Number:
Copy of Passport or ID (To enable me identify you when I get to your home
address):

During the scanning and clearance section here at the Airport, the FBI
Airport Authorities here found out that your ATM Visa Card is containing
such huge amount of money, hence they asked me to present to them all the
documents which proves that your fund is legal and has nothing to do with
Money Laundering. In compliance to their request, I presented to them all
the legal back up documents which are inside your payment file and they
were pleased with all the documents after going through them but they
still demanded for one new document called PACPP (Package Authorization
Country Permit Paper) before they could declare me free to exit the
Airport and take a flight to proceed to your place to complete your
delivery.

Meanwhile, after the FBI requested for the PACPP (Package Authorization
Country Permit Paper), I asked them to acquaint me on how we could
obtained the needed Certificate so they said that it must be secured from
the Origin Country of your ATM Visa Card which is Benin Republic, that is
why it is called PACPP (Package Authorization Country Permit Paper). I
contacted our Company (Regular Mail Post Office) immediately and informed
them of the recent update on your delivery. They have made inquiry with
the Ministry of Finance, whom I learnt are the only office recommenced by
the FBI to issue the Certificate in your favor. The Ministry of Finance
said that it will cost the sum of US$75 to issue the Certificate on your
behalf to enable a successful completion of your delivery.

Below is the payment information provided by the Ministry of Finance Benin
Republic which you are expected to use in sending the required fee of
US$75 down to their office in Benin Republic to enable them issue the
Certificate in your name today. You are required to make the payment ONLY
through Money Gram with the Receiver Data of their receiving agent below:

Receiver Name: Larry Ibeh
Country: Benin Republic
Country Code: 00229
City: Cotonou
Amount: US$75 only
Test Question: Good
Test Answer: News

Once you make the payment, then update me with the payment details such
as; Sender’s Name, Sender’s Address and the MTCN number or you can attach
the payment slip to me through email so that I could forward it down to
them to issue you the Certificate and fax it to the FBI office here, for
them to allow me exit the Airport and complete your delivery. I will also
attach a copy of the document to your email once they fax it to me here
just for your perusal. Please, I expect you to text or call me once you
read my email; USA Phone Number: (865) 366 5652. I really want to ensure
that I complete your delivery ASAP.

I look forward to receiving your urgent response in this matter to enable
me complete the delivery of your ATM Visa Card worth the total sum of
US$10,500,000.00. Thanks for your understanding in this matter and God
bless you.

Yours Sincerely,
EVG. Eric Leonard
Regular Mail Post Office Benin
Phone Number: (865) 366 5652
E-mail: a.ericleonard@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam