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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr Edidung" <barredidung3@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barredidung@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 10:42:16 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

Anthony Edidung & Associate.
Plot 45 Oyibo Adjarho Street,
Off Ayinde Akinmade Street
Off Admiralty Way, (by White Dove School)
Lekki Phase 1
Lekki- Lagos
Nigeria
TEL;234-8026965331

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am sorry for the embarrassment this mail might cause you, as we have not
met before. I am Barrister Anthony Edidung, a solicitor at law, I am the
personal attorney to Engineer Adam Bruce, who used to work with Oil
Company here in Nigeria.

Hereinafter shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of August 2002,my
client, his wife and their children were involved in a car accident on
their returning from the Beach. All occupant of the vehicle unfortunately
lost their lives, since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of
my client's extended relatives this has proved unsuccessful.

I came across your name and contact, while I was searching for Adam
relations, but my search was unsuccessful, so I contacted you for this
project. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and
properties left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the finance house where these funds were deposited.
Particularly, the Bank were the deceased has an account valued $USD15
Million Dollars, last year issued me a 12 months notice to provide the Next
of Kin or have the fund consignment confiscated, and this ultimatum expires
by next month.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin of the deceased
deposit valued at $USD15 Million Dollars to be released to you and then you
and I can share the money, 50% for me 45% for you, and the remaining5% will
be for expenses and tax.

You can forward to me your:

(i) Full Name

(II) Full contact address
(III) Age
(IV) Occupation
(V) Telephone and Fax number for easy communication.

He made the money in one of the Oil deals he had with our Oil Minister. All
I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this business
through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Sincerely yours,

Barrister Anthony Edidung

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam