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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +2348056380897 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "sam okolie" <samokolie70@msn.com>
Reply-To: samokolie70@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 13:06:54 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND, NEXT OF KIN

Dear Friend, 
 
I am a solicitor at law. I am the Personal Attorney to (MR.T William) a National of your Country, who has lived in Nigeria for the past fifty years, and whom here in after shall be referred to as my client. In April 1999, my client was involved in a fatal car accident along Lagos/shagamu express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives; my client was one of them. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating most especially, the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.
 
Particularly, the Grand Investment Trust Bank (GITB) where the
deceased had an account valued at about $20 million dollars, his bank has issued me a notice to provide the Next of kin, or have the account confiscated.
I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased since you have the same surname with him so that the proceeds of this account valued at $20 million dollars can be paid to you as my clients Next of Kin, and then we can share the amount on a mutual agreed percentage.
 
All legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin will be provided by me since I am his personal attorney, all I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Indicate your interest by sending the below information’s:
 
1. Your full name and address.
2. Your telephone and fax number.
3. Your Occupation, Age and Your Sex.
 
Please get in touch with me through my email
address and my phone number +234-8056380897
 
THANKS AND BLESS YOU

WARMEST REGARD,
SAM OKOLIE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam