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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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, 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.)
• 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.
  • don_shakiru100ng@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "don shakiru" <don_shakiru3@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: don_shakiru100ng@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 01:34:48 +0000
Subject: Greeting How Are You???

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

I am BARRISTER DON SHAKIRUa solicitor at law. I am  the personal
attorney to  Mr. Williams, a national of your country, who  used to work with
Impresiro Oil Processing Company in Nigeria. On the 21st  of  April 2003,
my client, his  wife and their three Children were involved in a car  accident along Ekwere  express-road. All occupants of the vehicle  unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your  embassy tolocate any of my clients extended relatives this has also 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 bank Where these huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the Eco Bank Nigeria Plc which is currently known as United
Bank of Africa (U B A), where the deceased had an account valued at about
$18million 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 2 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased 

since you have the same last name so that the

 

proceeds of this account valued at $18million dollars can be paid to you as
beneficiary and then you and me can share the money; 60% to me and 40% to
you. All necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we
may make will be produce as the transaction proceed.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal
through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. You can also
contact me on this email adress: don_shakiru100ng@yahoo.co.uk (as an 
alternative) for further clearification.

 

Regards,
BARRISTER DON SHAKIRU

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam