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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 friend" (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)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "million united states dollars" (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.)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348025121265 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • barr_tundealarun@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Tunde Alarun" <tundealarun4@msn.com>
Reply-To: tundealarun@ummah.org
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:25:22 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND..

Tunde Associates & Chambers.
Solicitors & Advocates,
Lagos- Nigeria.
Telphone:- +234-8025121265

Fax-  + 44-87-1251-6952          

E-mail:- barr_tundealarun@yahoo.com

Compliment.

Dear Friend,

I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was borne out of desperation and current development. Please bear with me.

My name is Barrister Tunde Alarun, a legal practitioner and the personal Attorney to late Eng.Manfred Becker, who used to own an oil servicing company in Nigeria. Herein after shall be referred to as my Late client. On September 2005 my client, his wife and their only son were involved in a Car Accident in Abuja the central capital of nigeria , know that my client had no living kin but i went ahead and made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, but this has proved unsuccessful.

I only did so to be double sure of this fact. 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, particularly the standard trust Bank Nigeria Limited where the deceased had an account valued at about $5m (Five Million United States Dollars).

The bank has issued me a notice that in the event that no next of kin comes up for the claim, the account will be confiscated after six month if not claimed and we have just about a month.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over three years 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 $5Million Dollars can be paid into your nominated bank account and then you and me can share the money in the mode, 40% shall be for me and 40% for you and 20% shall be map out for expanse that are being made within the transfer.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation 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. Kindly gets in touch with me by this email address (barr_tundealarun@yahoo.com) to enable us discuss further, and your telephone, fax number is urgently needed for further discussion.

I look forward to your urgent response.

Best regards,

Barr. Tunde Alarun

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam