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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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: "Joseph Egbo" <j40egbo@msn.com>
Reply-To: j40egbo@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 09:59:46 -0800
Subject: VERY URGENT

GALAXY CHAMBERS
SOLICITORS & ADVOCATES, NOTARY PUBLIC
PLOT 311 CONSTITUTION ROAD
VICTORIA ISLAND - LAGOS
NIGERIA
TEL: 234-1-4746945

I crave your indulgence for this unsolicited nature of contacting you; it
was out of desperation and eagerness that made me to contact you.

My name is Barrister Joseph Egbo; I am a Legal Practitioner and the Personal
Attorney to ERNEST WOODFORD (now deceased). He died as a result of injuries
sustained in a ghastly motor accident on the 17th of April 2005.

My late client was a consultant to several Telecom Companies in Nigeria. He
has spent over a decade in Africa and was a very good person who had a great
level of trust.

Since his death I have made several enquiries in his embassy in Nigeria to
locate any of his extended relatives but to no avail. After several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name to locate any member
of his family, hence I contacted you.

The proposition is that you will stand as his next of kin in-order to
retrieve the money and property he left behind before they get confiscated
or declared unserviceable by The Bank of The North where he had a huge
deposit of USD$5.346million (Five Million, Three Hundred and Forty-Six
Thousand US Dollars).

The bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin within the next
twenty one working days or forfeit the money as unclaimed funds.
Consequently I will like you to stand in as the next of kin to my deceased
client, so that the money will not get into the hands of some corrupt
government officials. The proceeds of his account valued at USD$5.346million
can be paid to your account and then you and I can share the money according
to any agreed ratio.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us go through. I
guarantee that this business will be executed under legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please feel free to call
me for further enquiries; I want you to send your Full Name, Contact Address
and Phone Number if you are interested.

Best regards
Joseph Egbo (Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam