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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "cohenwelch04 welch" <cohenwelch04.welch@gmail.com>
Reply-To: cohenwelch@myway.com
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 20:25:53 -0700
Subject: Dear Walter


5B TINUBU STREET, IKOYI ISLAND
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
From the Office of
Barrister Cohen Welch

Dear Friend,
I am Barrister Cohen Welch a legal practitioner. I am the personal attorney
to late Mr. William Walter , a businessman and contractor in Kano, Nigeria.
Hereinafter referred to as my client.

On the 21st of April 2001,my client Mr. William Walter . And, His family
were involved in auto crash in kano, 19 People were burnt to death
unfortunately my client Mr. William Walter , and his family lost their
lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to his embassy to locate any of his
extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several
unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his family hence I contacted
you.
I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my late client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable to the Bank where this huge deposit were lodged..Particularly,
the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about USD10 million
dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the
account confiscated within the next ten Official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3years 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
USD10 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the
money, 60% to me and 40% to you, I have all necessary legal documents that
can be used to back up any claim we may make. 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 the law. Please get in touch with me by
me email/ and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss
further about this mutually beneficial transaction.

Best regards,
COHEN WELCH (Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam