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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "inheritance tax" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (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.
  • +2348063701380 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "WILLIAM IBRU" <barristerwilliamibru@msn.com>
Reply-To: barr_williamibru10@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:33:09 +0000
Subject: I AWAIT YOUR REPLY

Barrister William Ibru,
Principal Partner,
William Ibru & Associates.
36 Fola Agoro Street,
Lagos.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am William Ibru, personal attorney to Mr Patrick Yua, an expartriate who
used to work with Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), here in Nigeria.

On the 21st of October 2005, my client was killed in an auto mobile
accident.Since then I have made Several enquiries to locate any of my
client's extended relatives.



This has proved unsuccessful.After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided
to
trace his relatives over the Internet hence I contacted you.I contacted you
to
assist me in repartriating the money left behind by my client before they
get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit was
lodged.The name of the bank is Trans international bank,where the deceased
had an
account valued at US$7,500,000.00(Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand
United
States Dollars).



The bank issued me a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the account
confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the the relatives, I
seek your consent to present you as the Next-of-kin to the deceased,so that
the proceeds of this account valued at US$7.5M can be paid to you and then
you and I can share the money; 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% will be
for expenses and inheritance tax, as your government may require.



All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see the deal through.
I
guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will
protect you from any breach of the law.



I await your urgent response.

With best regards,

Meanwhile you are welcome to call me for any further clarification on this
matter.

Barrister William Ibru
Tel :234-806-370-1380

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam