419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (YYYY-MM)

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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:
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
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.
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.
- +22962665796 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Rose Betsy" <taniamaryan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: w.union.offie11@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:21:37 -0800
Subject: I SWEAR AND I PROMISE YOU THATp I WILL NOT FAIL TO RELEASE YOUR FIRST
PAYMENT OF $5,000.00 TODAY.

ATTENTION:

I know it is because of your past expenses that make you not to
believe me but I told you before that I cannot deceive you because my
bible says what shall it profit a man to gain material things and
loose your soul, any way their is good news now, i raised some money
to help you out and make sure that your payment will be release to you
the same day you send the $45.00 as well. I borrowed money yesterday
after service from my Pastor, then you have to send the remain balance
now only $45.00 but i don't see the reason why you have keep silent on
me not to respond back, honestly I am just disappointed at your
behaviors before because you know that I cannot deceive you, Just pay
the $45.00 and leave rest for me watching me if I am telling you lies
or not.

Your payments is already approval today for you to receive it but the
management here says that you must pay $45.00 for the Stamp and
activation charge before you can receive the payment today, please
send the charge through western union immediately, i have assured you
a time without number that this is genuine and legitimate. I swear If
I fail to release your payment after you send the $45.00 as I promise
don't count on me again, I cannot fail you, I promise you, donâ€™t fear
as soon as you send the $45.00 today please leave the rest to me and
see if I am lie to you because I can not use my life swear because of
$45.00, how can I swear against my life because of this small amount?
it is to show you that I am telling you the truth.

You have an assurance of receiving your payment once this is settled
and whatever that arises next shall be taking care of by this our head
office, but i swear nothing is going to come up again after this and i
will make sure you start receiving your funds immediately or i will
write a petition against our headquarter office and they will have
whatever you have spent on your funds sent it back to you first thing
tomorrow. Just try and understand because i do not want you to loose
your funds that you have spent so much on now you have only one step
to receiving your funds. Do not allow the devil to turn your mind
against this because by the time you realize you have a mistake, it
might be too late to recover.

I will guarantee you 100% sure that you will not pay any more money
after you send this fee because you will pick up your first payment
within 45minutes after receiving the last fee from you and I will be
the cost of the fee if it is any other fee but I believer that no any
fee we will ask you to pay again I am makes sure that I must put smile
on your face in next 45 minutes I am waiting for your payment because
this transaction has taken so long and I don't want you to lose this
fund at the end This are your funds which is already in our system to
transfer to you and it will be release to you as soon as you pay the
(A.R.O) Authorization Release Order fees of $45.00 USD.

Please do not send any more money again now for you to know that we
are 100% sure that this fee is only money you will send in this office
here is your western union information you will use to pick up your
first payment is out already now.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE MONEY TO WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM BELOW:

Receiver Name :........... Frank Njoku
Country :........... Benin Republic
City :........... Parakun
Question :........... Color
Answer :........... Blue
Amount :........... $45.00
Money Transfer Control Number :........... (M.T.C.N)
Sender's Name :...........
Sender's Direct Telephone:...........

I promise you as soon as we hear from you with the payment of $45.00
Today we shall send your pick up information the same day you send the
$45.00 I swear.

Yours Sincerely
Mrs. Rose Betsy.
Phone:+229-6266-5796.
Foreign Operation Manager

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam