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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "barrister william ibru" <barristerwilliamprivate4@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 04:22:31 +0000
Subject: I AWAIT YOUR REPLY


I am barrister William Ibru, personal attorney to Mr Patrick A, an expatriate who used to work with Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), here in Nigeria.
On the 21st of October 2005, my client was killed in an auto mobile accident.
Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my client's extended relatives.
This has proved unsuccessful, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet hence I contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit
was lodged.
The name of the bank is Trans international bank, where the deceased had an account valued at US$7,500,000.00(Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see the deal through and both of us would share the money, 60% for me and 40 for you. I await your reply.

With best regards,
barr William Ibru.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam