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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: "tom poker" <barrister_tompoker@msn.com>
Reply-To: barrister_tompoker7@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 17:02:30 +0000
Subject: ACT FAST

Dearest,

I am Barrister Tom Poker, a solicitor at law. I am the Personal Attorney to
Tony McGee a National of your Country, who has lived in Switzerland for the
past ten years, and whom here in after shall be referred to as my client.

On the 25th of April 2003, my client, his wife And their three children were
involved in a fatal car accident. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately
lost their lives, my client was one of them. Since then I have made several
enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives
this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to contact you. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and properties left behind
by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the
Commercial bank where this huge deposits were lodged.The Commercial bank
where the deceased had an account valued at 6 million dollars 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 unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name. The proceeds of this account valued at 6
million dollars can be paid to you, as my clients Next of Kin, and then we
can share the amount on a mutual agreed percentage.All legal documents to
back up your claims as the deceased Next of Kin, will be provided.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal
through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in
touch with me to enable us discuss further about this transaction.

Best Regards
Barrister TOM POKER(Esq

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