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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Paul Martin" <barristerpaulmartin_2001@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barristerpaulmartin2000@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 04:45:24 -0800
Subject: READ AND GET BACK TO ME ASAP E-MAIL/FROM BARRISTER PAUL MARTIN.

Dear Sir/Madam
I HUMBLY WISH TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN A MATTER THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT AND NEEDS UTMOST TRUST AND CONFIDENCE.I AM BARRISTER
PAUL MARTIN, A BUSINESS CONSULTANT AND CLOSE CONFIDENT OF ONE OF
NIGERIA'S MOST POWERFUL FAMILY.THE WIFE OF TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
WHO SERVED IN THE PAST MILITARY REGIME IN NIGERIA WISHES TO MOVE OUT
OF NIGERIA THE SUM OF US$30MILLION. SHE WISHES TO INVEST THE
AFOREMENTIONED SUM IN VIABLE INVESTMENT OVERSEAS. FOR OVIOUS REASONS,
MY CLIENT DOES NOT WISH TO PLACE THIS FUND WITH ESTABLISHED FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION IN THEIR FAMILY'S NAME FOR SECURITY REASON. IT IS HER DESIRE

THAT THE DEAL BE HANDLED AS QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF ANY LEAKAGE TO THE PUBLIC OR GOVERNMENT.SHE HAS THEREFORE EMPOWERED
AND INSTRUCTED ME TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE FOREIGNER WHO CAN ARRANGE AND
RECEIVE THE MONEY IN HIS ACCOUNT OVERSEAS AND ASSIST TO INVEST THE FUND
PROPERLY FOR THE FAMILY.IF YOU AGREE TO ACT AS FUND MANAGER FOR MY CLIENT
AND HER FAMILY, I SHALL RELEASE THE SUM OF US$30MILLION TO YOU IF YOU MEET
MY REQUIREMENTS. THE MONEY IS AVALIABLE IN CASH IN A SAFE TRUNK AND UPON A

FAVOURABLE RESPONSE FROM YOU, I SHALL LET YOU KNOW HOW YOU WILL
RECEIVE IT. YOUR COMMISSION SHALL BE DOWN PAYMENT OF 15% OF THE TOTAL SUM,
AND ANNUAL 10% OF THE AFTER TAX RETURNS ON INVESTMENT FOR THE FIRST FIVE
YEARS. THEREFORE, THE TERMS SHALL BE VARIED.SIR, IF YOU ARE CAPABLE AND
WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRANSACTION, REACH ME ON MY EMAIL AS
SPECIFIED
ABOVE SOONEST.IN ANY CASE, PLEASE KEEP IT TIGHT SECRET. BE INFORMED THAT
THERE IS AN ARRANGEMENT GOING ON FOR THE CONVEYENACE OF THE CRATES
CONTAINING
THESE MONEY TO EUROPE SO YOU MUST BE READY TO TRAVEL FOR THE CLEARANCE OF
THE FUND.
WAITING TO HEAR AN URGENT RESPOND FROM YOU.
BEST REGARDS,
BARRISTER PAUL MARTIN.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam