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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:
  • "from the desk of" (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.)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • 2003@yahoo.com
  • @yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "kafa johnson" <barrkafajohnson03@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barrkafajohnson2003@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 09:40:16 +0000
Subject: Att Emil

From The Desk of Barrister Kafa  Johnson 
Kafa  Johnson & Associate Chambers
NO.1221 Adeniyi Jones, PMB 8964
Victoria Island, Lagos-Nigeria.
Email:: Kafa  Johnson 2003@yahoo.com
 
Dear  Emil
 
   I    am  Barrister  Kafa  Johnsoni a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr Mark Emil a national of your country,Who use to work with shell Development Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to me as my client.On Saturday, 5 june, 2002,my client, his wife and their three Children were involved in a Plane Crash along western  city Of  Ota  Nigeria. Since then I have made  several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track your contact over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. the bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $5 500 000. 00USD. (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $5 500 000. 00USD. (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand dollars) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money 60% to me and 40% to you I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
 
Please get back to me Immediately
Best regards,
Barr. Kafa  Johnson  Esq.
 
N/B Please reply to my alternative mail box: barr kafa  johnson 2003 @yahoo.fr  so that I can get back to you immediately for more details and evidence.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam