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:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. JANET WILLIAMS" <"cbb-23."@cap.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "jimdickson.ayo@mail.ru" <jimdickson.ayo@mail.ru>
Date: Wed, 17 May 2017 03:41:21 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION MY DEAR CONTACT JIM AYO WESTERN UNION AGENT FOR YOUR
PAYMENT.

CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN REPUBLIC(CBB)
INTERNATIONAL HEAD QUARTERS,
GARKI ABIOJA BENIN REPUBLIC
CONTRACT: MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/001
SWIFT CODE: BPH KPL PK
A/C: 459606-179244-169-678
PAYMENT REF: CBB/IRD/CBX/021/13
DATE 16/05/2017

Attention,

We The Central Bank Of Benin Republic have Deposited the check of your fund the sum of ($5.500,000,00USD) through
Money Gram Transfer This Morning after our final meeting held on 15th of May 2017 Regarding your
Inherited funds, Benin Government and His Excellency the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN PATRICE TALON
with the Central Bank Managing Director and CIA also IMF Director, Has Instructed this Office
to send your Funds through Money Gram Department Benin Republic for easier receive of your Inherited fund without any further delay,
All you will do is to contact Money Gram Agent Jim Ayo, He will give you direction on how you will be receiving the funds daily.
Remember to send him your information's to avoid paying money to the fraudsters that is going on through the global. You are required to send
your name and address were you want your fund to be send through money gram, The maximum amount you will be receiving each day starting from
Now is the sum of $5000.00. also you are required to send him the sum of $95 dollar for the Renewing of your payment file and Activation of your fund transfer paper
permit, So be fast and go to Money Gram and send the $95 immediately today so that you will pick up your first $5000 before we take on this New project,
Remember the faster you send $95 the faster we release the payment of $5000 to you today so that tomorrow you shall pick up the next $5000 OK,

Reconfirm your file that was deposited in this office with your name and address bellow to the agent.

1)Your Receiver's Name:.........
2)Your Home Address:..........
3)Your Country:.................
4)Your City:...........
5)Your Occupation :..........
6)Your Age AND Marital Status:.............
7)Your Mobile:.......
8)Your 2Email AND Passwords:..........
9)Copy Of Your Int'l Passport /Drivers Licence:........

Listen Very Well Dear,

Contact with this information's below:
CONTACT PERSON.JIM DICKSON AYO
The General Director.
Tel Number: +(229)-9967-0592
Office Line: +(404-666-7856)

Email him As soon as the required fee of $95 is sent today for the renewing and Activation of your payment file,
You will start receiving your funds as from Now.Send the $95 dollar through Money Gram Transfer or Western Union Transfer
with the name and address below to our cashier agent:

Here Is The Payment Information,

Receivers Name:.........JIM ADAM
Country:........Republic of Benin
City:.......Cotonou
Text:...............Today
Answer:................Yes
Amount:..........$95

After sending the fee you are required to forward the following information below.

Sender Name:...
Sender Country:...
Reference Number:...

I would advice you to go ahead and pay your payment file charges and receive your First payment of
$5000 in less than 20 minutes and began to enjoy your life like other's who have
received their own, We await to receive the payment information's from you today.Please if
you are not the real beneficiary don't respond on this,Call Agent JIM
on this Office Line (404-666-7856) for him to know that you have contacted him
with your information's. Note that if he don't hear form you until 2 working days your Inherited
fund will be cancel and the Money will be transferred back to the CENTRAL BANK OF
BENIN AS UNCLAIMED FUND.

Best Regards
MRS. JANET WILLIAMS
DIRECTOR OF ELECTRONICS AND INTERNET BANKING DEPARTMENT
OF CENTRAL BANK DU BENIN REPUBLIC (CBB).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam