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:
- "moneygram" (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. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +22998776901 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Frank Mark" <www.@fine.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. Frank Mark" <MONEYGRAMOFFICE@web.co.zw>
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2016 21:45:19 +0900 (JST)
Subject: The Money Gram Agent Remitting Office Benin Republic,Afortuke
Porto-Novo. Dear Beneficial, We the money gram agent remitting office
have received your E-mail Address as One Of THE SCAMS VICTIMS THAT
COMPENSATED BY UNITED NATION And here is the first payment of Your $5,000
USD. but you have to pay for the REACTIVATE TRANSFER FILE SUM OF $155usd
ONLY. Before you can pick up your first payment of $5,000 USD. okay. And
you have to track it with this tracking.
(https://secure.moneygram.com/track) Yo

The Money Gram Agent Remitting
Office Benin Republic,Afortuke Porto-Novo.

Dear Beneficial,

We the money gram agent remitting office have received your E-mail Address as One Of THE SCAMS VICTIMS THAT COMPENSATED BY UNITED NATION And here is the first payment of Your $5,000 USD. but you have to pay for the REACTIVATE TRANSFER FILE SUM OF $155usd ONLY. Before you can pick up your first payment of $5,000 USD. okay. And you have to track it with this tracking. (https://secure.moneygram.com/track) You have to track it with Sender last Name.

Use the below info to pick up your money now.
Reference #: 94 57 53 79
Amount: $5,000 USD
Text question: Sent
Text answer: Yes
Sender name.... Mark Ambros
Senders address: same as above

Below is the information to send the $155usdollars via MONEY GRAM transfer only,To Allow And Enable You Do Immediate Pick Up Your First $5,000usd Okay.

Receiver Name:KING OZID,
ZIP CODE:229 .
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC,
Text Question:Color
Answer :Green,
Amount:$399usd Only.
With MTCN Code Number,
Sender's Name And Address!!!

Fore The Security Reason Do Text Me The Money Gram Number Code to my
phone number as +22998776901,Do email me once you are back from Money Gram.
Dr. Frank Mark.
+22998776901,
REPLY US BACK WITH :MONEYGRAMOFFICE@web.co.zw

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam