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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "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 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.
  • gmartinchizanum9@yahoo.com.hk

Fraud email example:

From: "=?big5?q?Chizanum=20Martin=20\(esq\)?=" <martinchizanum9@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: martinchizanum1@virgilio.it
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 11:12:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Business/Your urgent attention needed


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gmartinchizanum9@yahoo.com.hk

Barr. Martin Chizanum

Chizanum,Ozop & Onyejemeli

Solicitors & Advocates of the Supreme Court Of Togo

No 16 Boulevard du la Ajidogome

Lome, Togo


Dear Sir/Madam,


I am Barr. Martin Chizanum, a legal practitioner. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Patrick S. Stohl, an independent oil contractor who used to work with Shell Development Company in Lome Togo.


On the 7th of June 2001, my client and his family were involved in a car accident along Bagida express road here in Lome,Togo. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to the embassy here to locate any of my clients relatives, this has proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact a trustworthy foreigner over the Internet that will assist me in this transaction, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$20.5 million (Twenty million, five hundred thousand United States Dollars)left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge amount was deposited.


The said Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next twenty-one working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for the claim.


All I require from you is your honest co-operation with no intention to cheat to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangements that will protect you from any breach of the law and strictly according to the laws guiding inheritance. I will give you further details of the transaction when I receive your response genuinely accepting to work with me.


Remain blessed,


Barr. Martin Chizanum

Principal Attorney,

Lome Togo



- Chizanum Martin (esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam