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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million 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.)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • ezedavid@mail15.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: eze david <ezedavid8@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:11:38 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: INHERITANCE CLIAMS ASSISTANCE my client Surname/Last Name


Dear Sir/Madam

I am=A0barrister Eze David=A0(SAN), personal attorney and also a close conf=
idant to a national of your country, who also shares the same Surname/Last =
Name with you. He used to work with one of the major oil companies as an ex=
patriate in this country, OANDO PLC.

=A0On the 6th of May, 2002 it was reported to me that my client, his wife a=
nd their children were involved in a Local Plane Crash at Kano State, en-ro=
ute Abuja (The
Capital City) all occupants in the Plane lost their lives, unfortunately on=
this same flight were other dignitaries like the Nigerian Sports Minister =
and a
host of others.

=A0The following websites could be referenced:
=A0
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1968616.stm

http://www.usafricaonline.com/ngrkanocrash.html

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/05/06/stories/2002050600451500.htm

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/05/05/stories/2002050503070101.htm

=A0Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any o=
f his extended relatives and this has also proved unsuccessful. After these=
several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you. I have contacted you to as=
sist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before=
they get
confiscated or auctioned by the Finance Company where the deposited the sum=
of US$6.5 million dollars.

The guidelines of this Finance Company stipulates that if such deposit rema=
ined unclaimed for over a period of time 3 years, without the fund lawfully=
claimed the
said deposit will be confiscated.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over one year =
for the deposit and his property, and the company has been notifying the ro=
tary club regarding this, now I seek your consent to present you as the nex=
t of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this deposit valued at US$=
6.5 million
dollars can be paid to you here or in any of the company's affiliate office=
overseas. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to
back you up for the claim.

=A0All I require from you is your honest cooperation and assistance to enab=
le us see this transaction through.I guarantee that this will be executed u=
nder legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the la=
w.

Please contact me on the above email address or this
alternative email address: ezedavid@mail15.com

Best regards,=A0

Barrister=A0Eze David=A0(SAN)
=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam