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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • +2348034334887 (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.
  • barristerbruceajibola@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER BRUCE" <barristerbruceajibol@terra.com.mx>
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 18:33:35 -0600
Subject: NICE TO CONTACT YOU...


Bruce Ajibola & Associates
Plot 772, Bombay Street,
Lagos - Nigeria.
Fax: 151-869-08901
TelePhone:234-803-433-4887
From: Barr. Bruce Ajibola
Attention: Please as next of kin,
Dear Sir/Madam
I am Barrister Bruce Ajibola a solicitor at law. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr. Lud Medley a national of your country, who used to work with Shell Development Company in Nigeria, Herein after shall be referred to as my client.
On the 21st of April 2002, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name 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 finance company where these huge deposits were lodged, particularly the Eco Bank Nigeria Plc where the deceased had an account valued at about USD $10.3 Million (Ten Million and Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next thirty official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since i know that you are willing to assist me to transfering the fund into your bank account in your country so this is why i urgently need your assistant in the proceeds of this account valued at USD $10.3Million dollars will be paid to you and then you will pay me for consultancy.
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up our claim, All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us to see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please feel free to get in touch with me to enable us discuss further,Send me your telephone number so that I will contact you for further details.
NB: Please reply to this email address as below: barristerbruceajibola@rediffmail.com

My Regards,
Barrister Bruce Ajibola

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam