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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million us 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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (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: Edwin Nsika <johnsoniwe5@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <edwinnsika1@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:14:41 +0100
Subject: Brown Funds



Dear Sir/Madam



I take the liberty of writing you this very confidential mail. I
implore you to give it your maximum attention as the contents are in
absolute good faith.



For avoidance of doubts, my name is Barrister Edwin Nsika, I am a full
time practicing lawyer registered with the Togolese Bar Association as
well as a Member of African Independent Financial Advisors.



My purpose of writing you this confidential mail is hinged on the fact
that; I was personal attorney to Mr. Robert Brown, nationality of
your country. Precisely on December 30th, 2003, while returning from
Accra Ghana after a weekend holiday at Labadi beach Hotel, my client
and members of his family (wife and daughter) died in ghastly motor
accident by running into a stationery Trailer without warning sign
along the Togo/Ghana Express way.



After his death with members of his family,due process was followed to
alert members of the public and any relation of his through Electronic
Media Obituary Announcement both in the local television station here
in Togo and Ghana. Also I took personal steps to announce his death
through internet advert but yet up till this moment of writing no
surviving relation of my said client ever came forward.



Right now his Bankers has written me requesting me to contact any
serving relation of his for the purpose of transferring his estate in
the sum of 10.2 million Us Dollars.Due to the pressure from the Bank I
decided to present you as the next of kin to my said deceased client
and to further ask your hand of co-operation under utmost
confidentiality to claim the outstanding sum by presenting you as the
Next of Kin of my late client.



Needless to reassure you that as a Lawyer and personal attorney to my
late client, all the necessary information and documents that will
sufficiently prove to the officials of the Bank that you are the next
of Kin to the deceased shall be obtained legally from the probate
section of the High Court.



I would therefore request you to give this letter serious thought and get back to me urgently .



Regards.

Edwin Nsika

Attorney at Law (SAT)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam