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:
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
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.
- +22968968895 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- carlosmark180@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- call tel: +229 689 688 95 get back to me asap. email:carlosmark180@gmail.com email:carlosmark04@yahoo.com phone no: +229 689 688 95 (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <"www.7."@lily.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MR CARLOS MARK <westerngoodlive35@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2017 00:08:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: RE-ACTIVATE YOUR FUND FILE TO PICK UP YOUR TWO PAYMENTS OF $10,000
USD OUT OF YOUR $4.5MILLION USD

Welcome to Western Union
Money gram
Send Money Worldwide
Our Ref:WUMT0XX2/987
Tel: +229 689 688 95

Attention

We wish to inform you that the United nations has released your Compensation fund with the sum of $4.5million USD issued on your email, the money was deposited with us in this western union Office By the United nations Representative in Benin Republic,Burkina Faso,Nigeria,Ghana and South Africa in scam Victim compensation program Mr. Gilbert Anthony, we shall be sending the money to your everyday Two payments of $5000.00 USD each from western union and another Two payment of $5000 USD each again through money gram as your daily payment until you receive the total fund of $4.5million USD deposited for you in our custody.

We are very glad to inform you that we have processed your first payments of $5000.00USD via western union money transfer and 2nd payment of $5000 USD each via money gram, but you cannot pick up the Two payments of the $10,000 USD except you pay for your fund file reactivation which cost any Amount of your choice which you have to send through western union or money gram.

For the transfer charge, we are going to take away our transfer charge from your fund, but the Reactivation fee must be a meaningful Amount of your choice to the information given to you below, then after confirming the payment information of Any meaningful Amount of your choice for the reactivation of your fund file, we shall Reactivate your fund file and release your first two $10,000.00 USD and two 2nd payment of another $10 000 USD ,I will give you the full Detail to enable you pick them up and get back to us for the another sets of four payments as your 2nd day payment.

As you can see below are the MTCN and Reference Numbers of your Two set of payments which we have already transferred for you today to pick up today, track them with Western union and money gram website by you self to confirm that your payments are available for you to pick up at any western union and money gram office of your choice in your country after your fund file reactivated.

The most important warning, Track the payments ,MTCN and reference numbers by yourself to confirm that the payments available for you to pick up to enable you not to be confused by anybody ,Don't try to pick up the payments without sending the Reactivation fee because more you are trying to pick up the payments without reactivating your fund file more you are corrupting the mtcn and reference number making it to be worst because the payment cannot be found on your name because your fund file is not yet reactivated and it can make the payments bounce back then take another 72hours to clear again after you have reactivated the fund file and it can block your fund account and cost you more money and time to reopen.

BELOW ARE YOUR FIRST WESTERN UNION PAYMENTS OF $5000.USD. EACH

Copy this western union website and pest to track the MTCN(https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money/app/tracktransfer)Paste it on a Google window then fix the mtcn( 0815050742 )and track your payments.

1) Senders 1st Name----------------------------Peter
2) Senders 2nd name----------------------------Moore
3) MTCN Number---------------------------------0815050742
4) Amount--------------------------------------$5000.00 USD.
5) Text question-------------------------------When
6) Answer--------------------------------------Today

BELOW ARE YOUR SECOND MONEY GRAM PAYMENT OF $5000 USD EACH

Copy this money gram website=(https://secure.moneygram.com/track)peste it on a Google window click it then fix the Ref(94575379) fix the Last name/Surname (Ambros) and click track to track your payment.

1) SENDER FIRST NAME--------------------------Philip
2) SENDER LAST NAME---------------------------Ambros
3) AMOUNT ------------------------------------$5,000 USD
4) Ref #--------------------------------------94575379 (Available for pick up by receiver)
5) Text question-------------------------------Red
6) Answer--------------------------------------yellow

Note : on this your reply ,the information you send is what I will reactivate your fund file with for your all daily payments and be sure you send the full correct information required below for your all payments and that will used to pick up your Four 1st payments and it will be used to be sending to you the rest of the payments once we receive the MTCN or reference Number of your fund file reactivation fee any meaningful amount of your choice minimum of $250 usd on our phone for some security reason +229 689 688 95, You have to treat it as urgent by reconfirming your full information to us immediately you receive this massage to enable us start the process of your fund file Reactivation and for other transfers immediately.

1. Your Full Name......
2. Your Address........
3. Your Tel Number.....
4. Occupation..........
5. Country.............
6. City................
7. Age.................
8. Text Question.......
9. Your Answer.........
10. Your Next of kin...

We are waiting for your positive response to direct you where to send the Reactivation fee to avoid wrong transfer or any mistake on the payment.

Receiver Name:=== =====ask for it
Country: =========BENIN REPUBLIC
City: =============COTONOU
Test Question: ========in God
Test Answer: ======We Trust
Amount to send: ====($--usd?)Any Amount of your choice
Senders Name:==========?
Mtcn:==================?

We looks forward to receive the Fund file reactivation fee together with your full information to enable us reactivate your fund file and release the first two payments of $5,000.00 USD western union and payments of $5,000.00.USD via money gram for you to pick them up and get back to us for the 3rd, 4th set of payments ok. Call Tel: +229 689 688 95 Get Back to me ASAP.

Email:Carlosmark180@gmail.com
Email:Carlosmark04@yahoo.com

Phone No: +229 689 688 95
Phone No :

My Regards
Mr. Carlos Mark

Western Union Director Akpakpa Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam