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. )
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "million us 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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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: "MR.JOSEPH BEERS" <1800cass@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrjosepbeer1@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2015 02:47:53 -0700
Subject: I am MR.JOSEPH BEERS the director of international airport Texas
United States.

Attn.Dear,

I am MR.JOSEPH BEERS the director of international airport
Texas United States.

Due to the illegal operations of fraudsters in this country America
our council with the united Nation forum has established to help you
and other scam victims recover your funds and consignments boxes here
in America.

So far now, we have recovered 100 consignment boxes abandoned in our
airport ware house and an other 50 consignment boxes apprehended from
illegal fake diplomats.

Due to the petitions received by the formal UN boss secretary
general-general Kofi Annan from all over the continent in regards to
the fraudulent activities going on in America sub-region with the
Security's agent and diplomats who has been delaying people's funds
and gold hold, consignments and valuables in their custody are demand
to be releases to their owners.

I am commissioner MR.JOSEPH BEERS the director of international airport
Texas, MR.JOSEPH BEERS commissioner of international airport Texas
United States for peace keeping, appointed by the new government of
(NDC) president professor Vickie Sutton, I have included

Your name into the beneficiary files of scam victims for release of 2
consignment boxes valuable of $95million us dollars and 85kilograms of
gold deliver to you from the cargo department of the united nation
diplomatic courier service here in Texas United State.

You are therefore advice to submit all your information for onward
delivery of your 2 register Consignment boxes deliver to you.

Passport id.
Full name.
Home or office address.
Direct telephone number/mobile number.
Fax number.
Country of origin.

Please kindly note the below important registration details of your
(2) consignment boxes
........................

1. The registration no............................ gil/am/xxx21/0x
2. The batch number of the boxes...................gil/ am/xxx54/0x
3. Security code number........................ ..sfss/am942054/02
4. Serial no............................ .....0043687/eb.

You are advise to act fast in receipt of this email to you and any
further delay will be the pleasure of the Unhrc to use your fund to
help the displaced people in Darfur and you are also advice to stop
any illegal transaction because we have place our net working on you
in any transaction you may likely participant on.

For further negotiation to enhance the completion of this transaction,
you will contact the united Nation diplomatic base (U.N.D.B) for
delivery of your 2 consignment boxes to you after you complete the
payment of $90 us dollars for the endorsement fees for the signatory
of the Texas international airport Authority .

NOTE YOU ARE ADVICE TO DIRECT THE FEE TO BENIN AS ORIGINATED OF YOUR
BOXES VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM.

Receiverâ€™s name: DAVID ISAMA
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION:URGENT
ANSWER: TODAY
AMOUNT $90 USD.

Best regards.

MR.JOSEPH BEERS
The director of international airport TX.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam