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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- b.yayi@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. BENSON SMITH, DIRECTOR INSPECTOR UNIT CIA" <BENSONBENSOSDFS.@seagreen.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MR. BENSON SMITH, DIRECTOR INSPECTOR UNIT CIA" <b.yayi@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:07:51 +0900 (JST)
Subject: REMINDER FROM C.I.A. (YOU HAVE JUST 5DAYS LEFT TO SAFE YOURSELF
FROM THIS MESS)

Anti-Terrorist and Monitory Crimes Division
CIA Headquarters in SECOND AVENUE 885 NEW YORK.
20535-0001
Tel: +1 470-258-4634
warrant no; usa/batch/tzx/Washington DC
CIA. inest. Washington

ATTENTION

This is the final warning you are going to receive from us do you understand? I hope you understand how many times this message has been sent to you? We have warned you so many times and you have decided to ignore our e-mails. Is it because you believe we have not been instructed to get you arrested? today if you fail to respond back to us with the payment details below, then we would first send a letter to the MAYOR of the city where you reside and direct them to close your bank account until you have been put to jailed and all your properties will be confiscated by the FBI, CIA and other enforcement agency. We
would also send a letter to the company/agency that you are working so that they could get you fired until we are through with our investigations because a suspect is not suppose to be working for the government or any private organization.

Listen very well, Don't play with me, we are just givingyou this week to send the $945usd before you get into trouble, listen again, you have only this week to make the payment of $945usd and if you fail we are going to have you arrested. So kind save yourself now or at last you blame yourself.

NAME: EDWIN UDEALOR
COUNTRY:BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION:IN GOD
ANSWER: WE TRUST
AMOUNT: $945
Senders Full Name======
Sender Full Address:====
MTCN:=========

Send the payment details to me with the senders name and address, mtcn number, text question and answer used and the amount sent. Make sure that you didn't hesitate making the payment down to the agency by today so that they could have the certificate endorsed, signed and stamped immediately without any further delay. After all this process has been carried out, then we would have to proceed to the Benin republic for the delivery of your consignment box which is valued at the sum of $8.5Million usd which was suppose to have been deliver to you all this while.

Note/ all the crimes agencies have been contacted on this regards and we shall trace and arrest you if you disregard this instructions. You are given a grace today to make the payment for the document after which your failure to do that will attract a maximum arrest and finally you will be appearing in court for act of terrorism, money laundering and drug trafficking charges, so be warned not to try any thing funny because you are been watched.

Response soonest.
THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
MR. BENSON SMITH, DIRECTOR INSPECTOR UNIT
(b.yayi@yahoo.com)
SECOND AVENUE 885 NEW YORK.
TEL: +1 470-258-4634 TEXT ONLY.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam