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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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: CHRISTINE LAGARDE <"internationalmoneta."@road.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: CHRISTINE LAGARDE <internationalmoneta@mail2check.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2017 20:18:42 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTN: YOU ARE REQUESTED TO CONFIRM TO THIS I M F OFFICE THE TRUTH
OF THIS MATTER,

ATTENTION: MY DEAR FRIEND;

PLEASE THERE IS SOMETHING BEWILDERED WHICH I DO NOT UNDERSTOOD,(MR.THOMAS ALLEN) YOUR BROTHER IS TRYING TO MAKE US BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE IN SICK BED AND NOT CAPABLE TO HANDLE THE TRANSACTION. HE EVEN EXPLAINED THAT YOU ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH HIM THEREBY MAKING HIM THE CURRENT BENEFICIARY OF THE CONSIGNMENT BOX . YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX WHICH WAS CONFISCATED BY THIS USA I M F OFFICE IN International Monetary Fund.

HE CLAIMED TO BE YOUR NEXT OF KIN AND HE IS HERE TO SEND THE NEEDED FEE OF $125.00 TO BENIN REPUBLIC FOR THE INSURANCE OF THE ORIGINAL AWARD OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE DOCUMENTS,THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS MESSAGE TO YOU TODAY, IN VIEW OF THIS DEVELOPMENT. YOU ARE REQUESTED TO CONFIRM TO THIS I M F OFFICE THE TRUTH OF THIS MATTER, WHETHER WE RELEASE THE CONSIGNMENT BOX TO YOUR BROTHER,

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND TO VERIFY WHETHER YOU ARE THE ONE THAT SENT HIM TO RECEIVE THE CONSIGNMENT BOX BEFORE WE CAN ALLOW HIM TO SEND THE $125.00 FOR THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP MR.SAM ALBERT. PLEASE, DO CONFIRM TO ME, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS MAN IS REALLY FROM YOU SO THAT THIS OFFICE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING WRONG PERSON.

BE ADVICE THAT WE ARE READY TO RELEASE YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX TO MR.THOMAS ALLEN AND I DON'T THINK YOU WILL BLAME ANY PERSON IF THIS HAPPEN WHICH YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID SOME MONEY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BENIN REPUBLIC IN THE PAST, THAT IS ALL I NEED TO TELL YOU NOW. PLEASE YOU SHOULD RESPOND URGENTLY TO ENABLE US TO KNOW WHETHER YOU WERE THE ONE THAT SENT HIM BECAUSE THERE IS NUMEROUS SCAM THAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY WHICH YOU MUST BE AWARE OF.

IF YOU ARE VERY SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT THE ONE SENT MR.THOMAS ALLENAS AN INSIDER IN THIS FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, GO AHEAD NOW TO SEND THE $125.00 WITH THE PAYMENT INFORMATION IN ORDER TO ENABLE BENIN HIGH COURT OBTAIN THIS NEEDED CERTIFICATES SO THAT YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS TO AVOID LOSING YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX.TODAY, Also be informed that the I M F in Benin (OFFICE) will obtain the non-residential clearance form and sign on your payment advice and a copy of the advice will be sent to the I M F in USA for some record purposes.

And you will send it to Benin republic as the origination of the said fund to avoid seized your CONSIGNMENT BOX by US Government. and must bear the signatory of Barrister Luwis Agu Attorney general OFFICE Benin Republic,Therefore.your advise to follow the instruction immediately and go to western union , and send the requested fee immediately

Here is the information to send the fee via western union

Receiver,s Name : Anyi Joseph Mmadu
City:::::::::::::::Cotonou
Country;:::::::::Benin Republic
Question::::::::::When
Answer::::::::::::Today
Amount:::::::::::$125.00 usd.
Mtcn:::::::::::::::::

Once again, I apologize to you on behalf of International Monetary fund I M F,
towards this contact and proper confirmation required urgently from you if alive.
E-mail: ( internationalmoneta@mail2check.com )

Thanks,
International Monetary Fund Agency
SERVICES USA COUNTRY I M F,
DIRECTOR OFFICE IN CHARGE.
CHRISTINE LAGARDE, IMF MANAGER
Call @ 2027503180

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam