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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "a project that will be very beneficial to both of us" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • a52b_4@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Abubakar Balarebe" <abubakar026@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: a52b_4@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:00:32 +0000
Subject: Next of kin

FROM MR.ABUBAKAR BALAREBE
WEMA BANK PLC
LAGOS-NIGERIA
WEST AFRICA.


(PRIVATE/CONFIDENTIAL).

Attn:

I am Mr. Abubakar Balarebe in charge of auditing section Wema Bank Plc
Nigeria in West Africa. Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you
as a surprise and through this media. Please i am contacting you for a real
business transaction which i will like to discuss about maturely.

I hope my letter will not enbarrass you since we have not had any previous
communication, though business is all about trust and opportunity. I hope
you will read this email with all the objectivity it deserves and then react
accordingly. I have decided to contact you on a project
that will be very beneficial to both of us. During our auditing in this
Bank, I came across some amount of money belonging to a deceased foreigner
Mr.Briggs who died with his wife and their only daughter during the
explosion in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 27, 2002 which claim many lives and
property.

The fund has been dormant in his account with this Bank without any claim of
the fund in our custody from his relation before my discovery to this
development. He was the Financial Manager of Eleme Construction Company here
in Nigeria. The said amount is U.S$9,580,000.00 (NINE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
AND EIGHTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS). I want you to know that I never
masterminded the death of the deceased fellow. Their death was occurred
naturally.

All the arrangement to use you put claim over this fund as the Bonafide Next
of kin to the deceased and all necessary modalities has been put in Place
and directives will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest
and willingness to assist me and also benefit your self to
this great business opportunity. In this country as a civil servant (A
Banker), we are not allowed to operate a foreign account. This is the actual
reason why it will require a second party or fellow who will forward claims
as the next of kin to the Bank and also present a foreign
account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on his
request.

Our Banking law stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after Seven
years, the money will be transferred into the Bank treasury as Unclaimed
fund. The request of foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned
by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a Nigerian cannot stand as
next of kin. I don't want this mon ey to go into the Bank treasury as
unclaimed Bill. Be assured this transaction is 100% risk free.

Upon receiving your information's which you will provide, i will contact an
acredited attorney to the bank who will represent your claim to the bank as
your attorney and also to secure every legal document in your name towards
thsi claim. You are only to furnish me with the following.

1) Your full names
2) Your contact address
3) Your personal phone and fax numbers
4) Your occupation and age
5) Your photo page of your international passport or driver's license

Please you have been advised to keep confidential as I am still in Service
and intend to retire from service after I conclude this deal with you. I
will fly down to your country for the subsequent sharing of the fund
according to percentages previously indicated and further investment will be
discussed. On your acceptance to be my partner, please email for a brief
discussion before we proceed.

Please keep this proposal secret, even if you don't want to assist me. I
Look forward to receive your urgent reply. Kindly get back to me A.S.A.P. to
my personal email address a52b_4@yahoo.fr

Yours faithfully,

Mr.Abubakar Balarebe

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam