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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.

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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.
• 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.
  • johnff17@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr: Frank John." <frankjj17@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: johnff17@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 18:28:53 -0700
Subject: how are you today


Dear Sir,

I am Barrister Frank John,A legal Solicitor and I was the Personal Attorney and legal adviser to Mr.Jude Mark,a national of your country, who used to work with Aminex Oil and Gas Company PLC here in Nigeria.

On the 9th of July 2003, my client, his wife and three of his childrens,were involved in a car accident along Fariston Road Nigeria.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

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 trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before the get impounded by the Bank where my client deposited this money.

Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had deposited this money valued at about twenty seven million Three hundred thousand united state dollar's (Us$.27.3 million)has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the money,confiscated/impounded.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives,I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are from the same country.

I will require your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through within a short period of time.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Contact me via my private email:(johnff17@yahoo.com}to
enable us discuss further.

Best Regard.

Barr: Frank John.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam