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:

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:
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million us 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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "lagos" (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.
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.
- +2347068583413 (Nigeria, 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.
- tntdeliveryexpress@kimo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: TNT GLOBAL DELIVERY COMPANY <officefilexzxz@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tntdeliveryexpress@kimo.com
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2017 20:28:02 -0800
Subject: THIS IS LAST TIME WE WILL SEND MESSAGE TO YOU REGARDING YOUR ATM CARD
SO YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO US TODAY.

TNT GLOBAL DELIVERY COMPANY LAGOS NIGERIA
Address: Plot 5, Government residential area Branch(GRA) Way,Ayaboninsa
Avenue, LAGOS NIGERIA.
E-mail:tntdeliveryexpress@kimo.com
Telephone number;+234 7068 583 413

Good day to you, this is the second notice we are sending to you in regards
to your atm visa card left here in our office, we notified you about this
few weeks ago but we havenâ€™t heard from you up till this moment. Many other
packages, which we are supposed to deliver together with yours had already
been delivered to their various owners and yet yours is still here in our
company. You can check on our website
http://www.tnt.com/express/generic/en_bj/site/home.html track with the
written numbers below and see those whom we have already delivered; they
all have received their shipments in a good condition.

Tracking number: 415459624 ( already delivered )

This is the evidence of the shipments we have already made safely and no
complain. Today we brought out some packages abandon here in our office, so
that is where we found yours sealed in an envelope. We opened this all to
find out is an atm card. Attached to this, is a letter sealed in the same
envelope stating that this card worth the sum $2.6 Million US Dollars also
that it has already been activated for use.

Reading down on this letter, which explains that the pin numbers of the
card will not be giving to any other person but you and it has to be from
the bank zenith international bank which issued this card. If you wish to
speak with the bank to acquire your pin numbers, you can reach the bank on
with E-mail(zenithinternationalbank1@go2.pl) Person to contact, Mr. Mike
Odili

The pin numbers will be issued to you by this bank; this will be when the
card gets to you. We had a dispute with the (NICON) Insurance office about
your insurance certificate which they demand $250 for that,but now all has
been settled. We are happy to inform you that Your ATM CARD is inside one
of the CONSIGNMENT BOX we are to dispatch this week.

Since you are having it difficult to raise the $250 needed, the fee is now
reduced to $100 for you. So you can now send $100 only to receive your ATM
CARD. A tracking number will be forwarded to you upon receiving the fee
$100. Our agent will call you once the package arrives in your city then
you give him more directions on how to drive down to your house.

You will need to sign on the papers which he will present to you once the
driver reaches your house. After this, you have to call the bank for your
pin# as this can not be send through a mail to you for some security
reasons. Note, you can also change the pin numbers if so desire for your
own safety.

You are advised to send a total sum of $100.00 via western union to the
name of our receiving agent below.

RECEIVER: FRANK NZEH
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
QUESTION:TODAY?
ANSWER: YES
AMOUNT; $100

Send the western union payment information back to us immediately after
doing that. We are waiting your urgent respond so we can move out the card
earlier today.

Once the card is dispatched today, you should expect the arrival
tomorrow.So please we advice you stay and wait to receive the card
personally because we wonâ€™t like giving it to someone else unless you have
an urgent place to attend then you must drop a written note with whom ever
you ask to receive it on your behalf.

MR.IDIKA BENSON
TNT GLOBAL DELIVERY COMPANY.
E-mail:tntdeliveryexpress@kimo.com
Telephone number;+234 7068 583 413

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam