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:
- "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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "davidkelly46@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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 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.
- chatzelisarmy@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Theresa Stang <"www."@jeans.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Theresa Stang <davidkelly46@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2017 02:32:00 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello! please go through this message and get back to us
immediately, THANK YOU

Today you will receive money from money gram coming from Africa to America.
Monitoring transfer fund from money gram head office has declared this money of $2,748,000.00 U.S Dollars receive back in America, this money was sent in Africa in APRIL-1-2015, sent by MR.John k Chatzel from America, then up till now the money hasn't been received, and we did not see the receiver named Nwankwo Obi and we couldn't found the sender.

Now the monitoring transfer fund from the head office has declared that this money will be wire back to America starting from today, be informed that this money will be send to you if you are intrested to receive it.

You will receive this money in the bank (ZENITH BANK) or in our office (moneygram), we will need your bank information to transfer the money into your account or any information you will use to receive it in the money gram, once we have your bank information MR.DAVID KELLY will be going to the bank for your transaction.

FOR (BANK)
YOUR BANK INFORMATION'S:__________________________
YOUR COUNTRY AND CITY:__________________________________
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:_____________________________________

FOR OUR OFFICE(MONEYGRAM)
YOUR FUL NAME:_____________________
YOUR PHONE NUMBER:______________________
YOUR HOME ADDRESS:_________________________
YOUR COUNTRY:__________________________

For more information please e-mail us back.
if your ready to receive the money today. just send your information to enable us start the transaction for you today.

Listen very carefully, tell MR.DAVID KELLY that you are advise to contact him by the money gram customer care from Ministry Of Finance here in Benin Bellow is his Information,
E-mail:davidkelly46@outlook.com
Address: 14 Avenue Island streets, Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Please, do not forget to update me (chatzelisarmy@yahoo.com) as soon as you receive your money $2,748,000.00 U.S Dollars THANK YOU.

notice: this transfer to America will stoup on january-20-2018 you need to receive this money today!.

SINCERELY
Customer care
johnson chatzel

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam