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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "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.
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: "HON JAMES B. COMEY JUNIOR" <cellebeach@alice.it>
Reply-To: fbiofficefbi@foxmail.com
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2016 16:46:59 +0100 (CET)
Subject: GOOD DAY,FBI APPROVED YOUR CONSIGNMENT
BOX$8,000.000.00(EIGHTMILLION DOLLARS ONLY

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTGATION
Address: 84956 Federal Plaza, 98rd Floor New York, NY 888
Message From New FBI HON JAMES B. COMEY JUNIOR

We the Federal bureau of investigation (FBI) Washington, DC., believe you
received the previous message we sent to you, prior to your dealings with the
U.
S Custom Authority at (JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York as
regards to your over-due contract payment consignment trunk box worth
$8,000.000.00 (Eight million dollars only), which was endorsed in your favor
and like we stated earlier, we have dully screened through this project as
stipulated on our protocols of operation and have finally confirmed that your
contract payment is 100% genuine and hitch free from all facet and of which
you
have the lawful right to claim your fund without any further delay.

This is to let you to bring to your notice that we have just been informed
through secrete source that the the U.S Custom Authority at (JFK) 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 $120.00 for Custom
Clearance Certificate C.C.C. charges as imposed, despite of 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.,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 which
will be only $120 for now after which the Diplomatic Agent deliver your
consignment trunk box to you then once you receive your fund, you can then pay
the remaining balance of $230 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 obtain the Custom Clearance Certificate
C.
C.C. and the diplomat will make the delivery to your home address tomorrow
morning.

Description of Your 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€¦2254

HERE IS THE PICTURE OF YOUR TRUNK CONSIGNMENT BOX:

Contact us right away and let me know when you will 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 to take
advantage of it, before it will become too late to do so.
Receiver's Data / information: via Western Union Money Gram and Ria Money
transfer allow to send it down to Benin Republic to obtain the needed papers
work to complete the delivery.

Receivers Name: PHILIP EZE
City Location: Cotonou
Country: Benin Republic
Question: How LONG
Answer: HOUR
Amount::: $120.00
Sender s Name
MTCN#...

Also be informed that we came to an agreement with the U.S Custom Authority at
(JFK) John F. Kennedy International Airport New York that you will be sending
half of the fee, latest before the end of tomorrow so please we will advise
that you send the fee right away because if you fail to do that, then they will
have no other choice than to release your fund to Mrs Lisa Robert who is
ready to work with them, and that am sure will be a very great loss to you as
we will not be able to help you then, hence your fund will be lost forever.
This is an official notification and we advise you treat it with utmost
urgency, in your best interest. God bless you !

Yours in service,
FBI DIRECTOR,
HON JAMES B. COMEY JUNIOR
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 11155

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam