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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:
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • markumeh@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Markus Umeh" <umeh1mail@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 16:22:46 +0000
Subject: Morie Mahoney


ATTN:Mahoney,

I am barrister Markus Umeh a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to
Mr.Morie Mahoney, a national of your country, who used to work with an
indeginous company here in Nigeria, Here in after shall be referred to as my
client.On the 16th of August 2003,my client, his wife And their three
children were involved in a car accident along Badagry Expressway, All
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients
extended relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet,
to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.I have contacted
you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my
client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank
where these huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Access Bank of Nigeria Plc where the deceased had an
account valued at about $10,586,068.00 dollars has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the funds confiscated within the next ten
official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over a year.
Now I Seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued at $10,586,068.00 dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can
share the money 50%50%. I have all necessary legal documents that can be
used to back up any claim we shall make. All I require is your honest
co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee you that this
will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from
any breach of the law.

PLEASE ON YOUR REPLY.DO SEND ME YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS PRIVATE
TEL/MOBILE/FAX NUMBER INCLUDING YOUR COUNTRY CODE. PLEASE REPLY THROUGH MY
PRIVATE EMAIL:markumeh@hotmail.com

I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Barrister Markus Umeh



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam