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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("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.

Fraud email example:

From: "JAMES B. COMEY" <centrorevbonavita@alice.it>
Reply-To: joinforcecastteam@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2015 10:44:56 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Federal Bureau of Investigation United States Department Of Justice
Fbi New York 26 Federal Plaza 23rd Floor New. York 10278-0004.

Federal Bureau of Investigation United States Department Of Justice Fbi New
York 26 Federal Plaza 23rd Floor New. York 10278-0004.

Attn: Dear Consignment Owner.......Read Carefully

I, JAMES B. COMEY (DOG) is hereby announcing to you that your consignment
box worth $10.700.000.00usd received at JFK airport since year 2014 from Benin
Republic government authorities and Every necessary fees/charges has been paid
by senders except $750.00 for CCC custom clearance certificate but a Lady Mrs.
Jane Frederick came forward and claimed you sent her to claim your
$10,700,000.00 because you are died in a year 2014 during the affected Disease
called Ebola spread in your country, is it true that you dead?

Did you order her to pay for Custom Clearance Certificate (CCC) to claim your
fund consignment box? Also be informed that we came to an agreement with the U.
S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport NYC that you will
send $750.00 latest tomorrow morning.

This is to bring to your notice that we have just been informed through
secrete source that the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy
International Airport New York are making arrangement to have your contract
fund wired into the Bank account of Mrs. Jane Frederick, the lady that
contacted them, earlier and presented some documentations evidencing your claim
purported to have being signed personally by you for the release of your
contract fund to her, since you have chose to ignore their messages and refuse
to pay the required $750 for Custom Clearance Certificate charges as imposed,
despite the advise we gave to you.

I want to personally assure you once again that you will have every course to
smile and be happy upon conclusion of this project, as we will continue
monitoring all your services with them at all level as well as your
correspondence, until you have received your Metal Trunk Box accordingly. As a
LEGAL OWNER, we are here to protect your interest and that is the reason why we
are doing all we can to make sure all goes well, this is a huge amount of money
which we don't wish for you to lose.

We understand that the imposed fee might be too much for you to pay so to
further make things easier for you, we have discussed with the U.S Custom
Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York pleaded on
your behalf for them to give you the grace of sending half of the charges $375
for now after which the Diplomatic Agent makes the delivery of your consignment
trunk boxes to you then once you receive your fund, you can then pay the
balance of $375,

All we want you to do right now is to send the half of the money with the name
listed below so we can forward it to Benin Republic Customs authority to help
us bobtail the Custom Clearance Certificate and the diplomat will make the
delivery to your home address tomorrow morning by 9:00 AM

Receiver's Data / information:
Receivers Name: : FRANK UDE
Country:: Benin Republic
City : :Cotonou
Text Question: :IN GOD
Answer: : WE TRUST
Amount: :$375
Sender s Name...MTCN#...

Description of Consignment box to be delivered:

Type:......CONSIGNMENT TRUNK BOX

Size:....../ 2:1 CM.
Weight:...5.6KG.
Colour:.....BROWN BOX
Registration NO: #98952457
Serial #1256784315
Pin numberâ€¦*****

Contact us right away and let me know when you send half of the charges as we
discussed with them to enable them route your fund to you with immediate
effect. This is a life time opportunity and we will advise you take advantage
of it, before it is too late to do so.

God bless you!

Thanks.
Yours in service.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam