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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)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • james_oke115@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "james oke" <james_oke2@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 22:09:44 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF JAMES CHAMBERS



FROM THE DESK OF JAMES CHAMBERS
THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS
# 12 ISAAC JOHN STREET
IKEJA, LAGOS NIGERIA.
ATTN:
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.
I am BarristerJames Oke, a solicitor at law. I was the Personal attorney to
a national of your country, who used to own an oil servicing company in
Nigeria Herein after shall be referred to as my client.
On the 21st of November, 2002.my client his wife and their three Children
were involved in a car accident along Shagamu express road. All occupants of
the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
Since then I had made several inquiries through your Embassy to locate any
of my clients extended relative but this exercise has proved unsuccessful.

After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives
through Your Coountry's Chamber of Commerce, to locate any member of his
family not much progress was recorded My late client was an influential
wealthy businessman, an oil magnet here in Nigeria and he left behind a
deposit of $15.7 Million in his domiciliary bank account in Standard Trust
Bank Nig. Plc. here in Lagos. After the death of my client his bankers
contacted me, as his Attorney to provide his next of kin who should inherit
his fortune.
The board of directors of his bank adopted a resolution and I was mandated
to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money within 28 working
days or forfeit the money to the bank as an abandoned property.
The bankers had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of 1996 to
confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given to me.
Despairing at the point of exhaustiveness, fortunately, I came across your
name, to my utmost amazement, I discovered that you bear the same surname
with my late client and coincidentally, you are nationals of the same
country.
I am Convinced that you may be linked with my late client or that you might
provide clue to my search, I therefore, decided to contact with these facts
before me because of the similarities. By virtue of my closeness to the
deceased and his immediate family, I am very much aware of my client
financial standing and the bank account he operates.
I have reasoned very professionally and I feel it will be legally proper to
present you as the next of kin of my deceased client so that you can be paid
the funds left in his bank account hence I contacted you.
I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since
you are at an advantage, so that the proceeds of this Bank Account valued at
US$15.7 Million Dollars can be paid to you.
We shall both share the funds. 55% to me and 45% to you, I shall assemble
all the necessary Legal Documents that will be used to back up our claim.
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 law.
Please get in touch with me by e-mail through my alternative e-maill
address (james_oke115@myway.com) to enable us discuss further. You may also
send your phone number so that I can call you.
I look forward to your urgent response.
Best regards,
Barr james oke

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam