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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • johnsteve_2004@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "John Steve" <john_steve1@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:44:31 +0100
Subject: successful business

FROM THE DESK OF;BARRISTER JOHN STEVE
ECO BANK NTERNATIONAL (NIG) PLC
4/6 Adetokunbo Ademola Street
P. O. Box 75369 Victoria Island,
Abuja-Nigeria
Email:johnsteve_2004@yahoo.co.uk

Dear water,

I am Barrister JOHN STEVE, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney
to, Mr.Mike water,a national of your country, who used to work with shell
Development Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my
client. On the 21st of April 2001, my client his wife and their three
Children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama express-road. All
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately losttheir lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
clients extended relatives this has also proved nsuccessful.After these
several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the
Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind
by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where these huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Eco Bank nternational where the deceased had an account
valued at about US$20m (Twenty million, United States Dollars only) has
issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of thedeceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued at US$20m can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.
60% to me and 40% to you I have all necessary legal documents that can be
used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal
through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.


And I am assuring you that it is 100% risk free. So
you need not be afraid.

Best regards,

Barrister JOHN STEVE,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam