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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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Fraud email example:

From: "FROM BARRISTER WILLIAMS" <williamchambersnig@albafind.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: williamchambersnig@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 02:13:31 +0100
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION SCHMIDT

From Barristr Rotimi Williams
Williams Chambers Palmgrove House 1
Shagamu AvenueIlupeju Lagos/Nigeria
E-mail:williamschambersnig@albafind.com

Attn: Schmidt,

This letter is not intended to cause any embarrassment in whatever form,
rather it is intended to contact your esteemed self, following the
knowledge of your high repute and trustworthiness. Firstly,I must solicit
your confidentiality. I know that a proposal of this magnitude will make
anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that it is made in
good faith and will be of mutual benefit.

I am Barrister Williams Rotmi a Senior Advocate in Nigeria(SAN),the
personal attorney to Mr.Kenneth Schmidt, herein after referred to as my
client, a national of your country, who used to work with Shell Petroleum
Development Company in Nigeria.My client and his entire family were
involved in a fatal motor accident, which unfortunately claimed their
lives, along the Sagamu express road, sparing none of the occupants of the
vehicle. I have since then made several enquiries to your Embassy, in a
bid to locate any relation of my late client, and these efforts of mine
have not been productive.

I have contacted you to assist me in claiming the money left behind by my
late client before they are declared as unclaimed and unserviceable by the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) where the Fund have been lodged for
safekeeping totaling Thirty Million United States Dollar (USD30M) This is
because the said Bank has issued a notice to me, unequivocally instructing
me to produce the Next of Kin/ Beneficiary to the said account within the
next fourteen official working days, or have the account confiscated.

Considering my lack of success in my bid to locate his relatives for over
two years now, I solicit your consent to enable me produce you as the Next
of Kin to my deceased client since both of you has the same surname. The
funds will then be shared according to a proposed sharing pattern /ratio
of 70:30 i.e. 70% for me and 30% for you.I will provide all the necessary
and legally obtained documents to back up claims we make regarding this
process, and will just require your understanding and cooperation to
enable us achieve success within a legitimate arrangement, eliminating any
liability resulting from any breach of the prevalent laws.

Your urgent response will be highly appreciated through my alternative
email address: williamchambersnig@yahoo.com For effective
communications, kindly forward to me your Tell/Fax number immediately for
more clarification on my late client.

Best Regards

Barrister Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam