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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.)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "adams kuta" <adamskuta55@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: adams_kuta@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 07:18:00 -0700
Subject: Urqent Transaction !

Attn : President/Ceo.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am barrister Adams Kuta, private attorney to the late Mrs. Stella
Obasanjo, wife of the Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who died on
Sunday 23rd of October 2005 at a Hospital in Spain, she had traveled to
Spain to undergo surgery and died from complications resulting from that
surgery.

As the personal attorney to the deceased, i handle every of her affairs,
mostly properties
and funds both domestic and in overseer’s. In this case my clients who left
huge amount of Million GB Pounds Sterling and so many investment with my
signatures abroad. Very soon my client's family will call me to account for
my client's properties and fund offshore.

At this juncture, i seek your consent to present you as the benefactor to my
client's fund deposited in Europe which i will disclose to you, since i have
all the documents regarding the depositing of the funds. I will procure all
necessary legal documentation that can be used to back up any claim we might
make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this
deal through.

I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law, I promise that you and i
can share the money 75/25%. Please awaiting your urgent response if you are
interested. I believed my letter received a favorable consideration from you
as I await your respond as soon as able possible. On your reply I will
attach my copy of international passport for proper proof of my identity.

Website:
-http//www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/10/23/obasanjo.obituary/index.html

Best Regards,
Barr. Adams Kuta
Adams& kuta co
Legal Practitioners,
404 IBB Road,
Ikoyi Lagos,
Nigeria.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam