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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "million 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: "Barister Abdul Idris" <hugoyan113@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:20:02 +0400
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION.


Dear Friend=2C
I am Barister Abdul Idris The Attorney to Mr=2EHugo Yahn=2C a national of your country=2C who was murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe =2C in early 2006=2EYou can read more on this on=3A www=2Ezimbabwenews=2Enet
He owned Diary Farms Limited in Cashel =2C Zimbabwe =2E He also owned three Tobacco Farms in Chipinge=2C and also a majority owner of Glendevon Farm also situated in Chipinge=2C in Zimbabwe=2E
However before his death=2C Mr=2EHugo was able to secure with a very good diplomatic contact=2C A Family Consignment =28in the form of Gold and Diamond=29 valued at Four Point Seven Million United States Dollars =28US$4=2E7m=29=2C in safe deposit Security Company in Durban=2C South Africa=2C with hope of transferring same to your country when he met his untimely death=2E

Since his death I have made several frantic enquiries through your embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives has also unsuccessful=2E
After these several unsuccessful attempts=2C I decided to trace his name through a business directory I got from the world trade center in Johanesburg=2C in order to get somebody bearing same name in your country as my client's who will stand in as proxy to clear this consignment=2E
A notice has been long issued to me by this company to provide my client's next of kin or else=2C the consignment will be declared as =22unserviceable=22 and therefore confiscated by the Deposit Company=2E
This is a proposal for you to consider this as a matter of urgency and pay priority attention to it=2E
Kindly give me your urgent response=2EI am ready to share this consignment with you on a very good negotiable percentage to each party if successfully completed=2E
In your response=2C please may I have your contact details such as=3A
Full Names=2C address=2C phone and fax numbers=2C and nature of business activity=2E The information will assist me in preparing relevant documents needed to change the consignment ownership to your name=2E
I highly regret all inconveniences=2E Thanks in anticipation of your kind cooperation=2E
Yours Barrister Idris=2E

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam