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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • utaki@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "SAN FANI M UTAKI" <lutelkio01@msn.com>
Reply-To: lutelkio@alex4all.com
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 07:55:15 +0000
Subject: FOR YOUR PERUSAL

ATTN: THE OFFICE OF UTAKI & UTAKI CHAMBERS
(INTERNATIONAL SOLICITORS AND ADVOCATES)
1-2 SIDE STREET,
FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY
ACCRA, GHANA.
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
COMPLIMENTS
Well I know of the fact that scams are the order of day in Africa
particularly from west Africa but I want to assure you that this is not
scam.
Meanwhile, I remain barr.Fani M. utaki (san, sag), an attorney at law of
international standard. I am a Ghanaian and also a personal attorney to
consultant engineer of your country who was killed with his family in
inter-ethnic clashes in yendi Accra Ghana in march 2002 .For more
information about
this<http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/ghana/printable.htm>(warnings)..
Consequent upon this, i have made several attempts in your embassies both in
Nigeria and Ghana to see if i can get a relative of the deceased client but
to no avail so i am contracting you to assist in his consignments (USD 15
millions) left behind before it is claimed or termed unserviceable by his
bank: INTERCONTINENTAL TRUST BANK as they have issued me a notice to provide
the next of kin .I hereby seek your consent and approval to present you as
the next of kin of the deceased Afterwards, it will be shared between us as
follows: 50% for me and 40% for you and the remaining 10% used as expenses
in cured in the course of the transfer.
Finally, I need your power of consent and honest co-operation .I guarantee
you that this will be executed under legitimate arrangements so there will
be no infringement of any sort. just indicate your sincere interest by
responding promptly to my email: utaki@myway.com
BEST REGARDS,
BARR FANI M UTAKI (SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA,SENIOR ADVOCATE OF GHANA)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam