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:
- "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. )
- "processing fee" (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. )
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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: Jenifer Willie <transofonic@arnet.com.ar>
Reply-To: <jewillie399@barid.com>
Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2016 06:52:21 -0200
Subject: DO YOU PREFER LOOSING YOUR =?UTF-8?Q?FUND=3F=3F=20BANK=20TRANSFER?=
=?UTF-8?Q?=20FINAL=20NOTICE=E2=80=8F?=

--
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE NATIONAL HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX
SENATE HOUSE - UPPER CHAMBERS WUSE DISTRICT, COTONOU BENIN
Our Ref: FGN /SNT/STB

IF YOU FAIL TO SEND THE $39 THIS WEEK YOUR $2.500, 000.00 IS GONE

I have to inform you again, that we are not playing over this, I know
my
reason for the continuous sending of this notification to you, the fact
is
that you can't seem to trust any one again over this payment and we
have
now curt the prize of $99 to $39 for what you have been in cantered in
many
months ago, but I want you to trust me, I cannot scam you for $50 it is
for
bank processing of your payment, the fees is $99 but we have curt to
$39 so
that you can be able to send it today, $39 is clearly written to you
before, and the good part of this, is that you will never, ever be
disturbed again over any kind of payment, this is final, and the forms
from
there becomes effective once we submit your payment application
processing
fee and pay the form fee of $39 I don't want you to loose this fund
this
time, because you may never get another such good opportunity, the
federal
government is keen and very determined to pay your overdue debts, this
is
not a fluke, I would not want you to loose this fund out of ignorance,
I
will send you all the documents as soon as bank payment processing fee
is
paid, you have to trust me, you will get your fund, find a way to get
$39
you will not loose it,instead it will bring your financial
breakthrough,
find the money and send it to our bursary.

The reason why am sending you this because I want you to receive your
USD2.5M immediately we are trying to round up for this payment
program.The
processing charges which was initially on the high price has been cut
down
by the payout bank considering the poor economic situations that make
it
difficult for the middle class citizens to meet up with the processing
charges of their entitlement. Upon the confirmation of your processing
charges you will get your $2.500,
000.00 into your account within 15hrs.

Here is the payment information to use please only through Money Gram
finally my advice to you is not to abandon this transaction because of
the
requirement of ($39) Account Officer Info:Send the fee through Money
Gram
only.

Receiver Name::::::CHINEDU OZOEMENA
Country: ::::::::Benin Republic
City:::::::::::::: Cotonou
Text Question: ::::::code
Answer::::::::code
Amount required: :::::::$39
Sender's Name:::::
MTCN Number:::::::

As soon as the payment is received today, you will receive your $2.5M
the
same today without any delay.

Best Regards
Mrs Jenifer Willie

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam