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:
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- +22999373167 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr David Ifogo <noah-oki55555555555555555555555@theia.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Dr David Ifogo <DrDavid-Ifogo22@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2016 01:09:30 +0900 (JST)
Subject: from ECOWAS world-wide banks through the Federal Ministry of
Finance

Hello friend,
This is Dr David Ifogo, the currency controlling management officer in charge of International wire transfers from ECOWAS world-wide banks through the Federal Ministry of Finance Cotonou - Benin Du' Republic.

We're here to inform you that your "funds transaction file" was brought to my desk this morning as the board directors & management of the ECOWAS / Pan-African Banks and their offshore foreign correspondent bank management in-charge of your fund transfer have declared to divert your fund into the government treasury account just because you were unable to pay a wire transfer charges fee of your deposited/inheritance fund.

In my wise reasoning to this complaint, I told them to wait until I hear from you so that i will know the reason why you decided to reject such amount of money worth Millions of American (USD) which is your legal overdue inheritance payment right just because of the transfer fees.

I sent you this message base on the fact that this very fund which the Bank and Managements want to divert belongs to you and it's your sweat... As matter of fact, you still have a last chance to claim your fund if you can send your reply across to this office which will enable us arrange an ATM Wire transfer to you but failure in doing so, I will allow them to have power over your fund as I will be very sorry if you fail to comply with this last chance from my Desk.

I want you to quickly send your full names and your mobile telephone numbers together with your contact home address if you still want the transfer to you this weekend (Via) "Visa ATM Card" in less than 72 hrs...
Kindly indicate your interest in receiving your funds as I have stated above and the funds will be released to you without any hitch.

Remember that I have done my best for you as to make sure that your wire transfer release begins the moment we confirm your mail response to this honorable office.. Don't fail to call on us through this hot-line (00229) - 99 - 37 - 31-67 when you have sent us a message.

With Thanks.
Dr David Ifogo.(REV)
ECOWAS World-Wide Treasury Department,
International Wire Transfers - Federal Ministry of Finance,
Benin Du' Republic.
Telephone: +229 - 99 - 37 - 31-67.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam