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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348023872900 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Robert Duru" <robertduru101@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: rd_san@mmail.com
Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 13:41:20 +0000
Subject: Urgent Responsed

From: Barrister Robert Duru
Robert & Co Chambers,
Lagos-Nigeria.
Tel: 234-80-23872900
My private E-mail is rd_san@mmail.com

Dear Bertels,

I am Barrister Robert Duru, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney
to Late Mr. Jack Bertels, a Foreigner, who used to work with Shell Oil
Development Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my
client.On May 4, 2002 my Client, his wife and their two children were
involved in a fatal air disaster.

My Client and his family together with other persons had boarded the
ill-fated Executive Airlines Services (EASAirlines) which took off from
Aminu Kano International Airport and crash at Gwamaja on the outskirts of
Kano City killing all passengers on board. Since then I have made several
enquiries to his embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives,
this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts,
I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of
his family, hence I had to contact you. I have contacted you to assist in
repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated
or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit were lodged.

Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had a deposit valued at about Ten
Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD 10.5M) has issued
me a notice to provide the next-of-kin orhave the account confiscated within
the 6 weeks.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for
over a years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of
the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$10.5 Million
can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money.

I would like you to contact me once you receive this mail indicating your
interest in this to enable me give you more details of the modus operandi of
getting this money paid to you by the Bank. I am willing to give you US$4 M
out of the entire sum for your assistance in getting this fund and I shall
make arrangements on how to meet you at the appropriate time for the
disbursement.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
deal through. I guarantee 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 immediately as I do not have much time in my disposal.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation.

Please copy reply to rd_san@mmail.com

Best Regards,

Barr. Robert Duru

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam