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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "ahmed ahmed" <ahmedahmed44@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ahmed20059@myway.com
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 13:50:41 +0000
Subject: C.B.N


Dear Sir,

I am barrister Ahmed Ail , a solicitor at law and the
personal attorney to late Mr.Mark Hubbard, a national
of your country, who used to be a private contractor
with the Shell Development Company in Nigeria, herein
after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st
of April 2002, he and his wife and their three
children ere involved in a car accident along Sagbama
express road, all occupants of the vehicle
unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your
embassy to locate any of my clients extended
relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.After
these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to
trace his last nameto 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.

The deceased had an account valued at about $15
million US dollars and the bank has issued me a notice
to provide the next of kin or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working
days.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the
relatives for over 2 years 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 $15Million US dollars can be
paid to you and then you and me can share the money.
60% to me and 40% to you. I have all necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may
make.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us
see this transaction t I guarantee you that this will
be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in
touch with me urgently by Email: or my direct

Best regards,
Barrister Ahmed Ail

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam