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:
- "account opening" (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
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.
- mailofficeaccun@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Robert G Morgan" <mailofficaccoun@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mailofficeaccun@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2017 07:41:13 -0300 (ART)
Subject: ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE?DID YOU AUTHORIZED HIM AS YOUR
REPRESENTATIVE??

UK TREASURY DEPARTMENT, LONDON
Unit 1, Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ, United Kingdom

Dear ,

REF: PART PAYMENT OF US$3.5MILLION

This is to notify you that the World Bank have assigned UK TREASURY
DEPARTMENT, LONDON UK in conjunction with Standard Chatered,Bank of Dubai
UAE, Barclay's Bank and Asian Development Bank to settle all the debts
owned by Africa,Europe, America, and Asia Governments This is as a result
of joint meeting held by United Nations,World Bank, Britain, European
Union and America.

The World bank/United Nations has contracted the Standard Chartered Bank
Dubai for supervising, handling/processing of your payment online with
other Contractors, Inheritance Lottery Winners and Internet Scam
Dating/Marriages. We have vetted and evaluate your file, which the World
Bank/ United Nations submitted to us for immediate payment. Be informed
that you are entitled to receive part payment of US$3.5 Million (Three
million five hundred thousand United States Dollars.

From our findings, you have been going through hard ways by paying lots of
charges to corrupt and faceless individuals and government officials to
release of your funds, which has been delayed.Please,henceforth stop
further communication with anyone in
regards to this development; Any further communication with your past
contacts
concerning this matter is at your own risk. The only requirement we need
from you which is irrevocable is for you to open an online bank account
with the Standard Chartered bank Dubai with online access to enable you
monitor and transfer your funds by yourself.

Unfortunately one Mr. Scott Neville reported in our Office, claiming to be
your representative, because of your ill health condition,please kindly
confirm that you sent this man on your behalf..if not,Send your full name,
address, valid identification and telephone numbers to enable us forward
to the Standard Chartered Bank with instruction to contact you for the
online account opening. When you follow our directives, you will receive
your funds within seven working days from the date we receive your reply

Send your reply to my private email address: (mailofficeaccun@gmail.com)

Congratulations in advance.

Robert G Morgan
Yours faithfully,
UK TREASURY DEPARTMENT, LONDON

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam