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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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)
  • "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: BARRISTER BEN KOFA <benkofa_60@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 04:18:44 +0200
Subject: TO BE THE NEXT KIN OF MR. BARRY KELLY

Barrister Ben Kofa & CO Tel/Fax: 234 8033355998 E-mail: barrister.ben.kofa@laywer.com I am Barrister Ben Kofa, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Barry Kelly, He was the CEO to a private firm here in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the August 6, 1997, my lient, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Abeokuta express road. Since the demise of my client, I personally has watched with keen interest to see his next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds deposit of US$25M, [Twenty Five Million United States Dollars] which was deposited by my late client with Diamond Bank Limited here in Nigeria. On this note, I decided to seek for a foreigner who will stand as the Next of kin to claim this funds from the Diamond Bank Limited where the funds wasdeposited, as none of the deceased relative has come up to claim the deceased funds. The banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than Nineyears, after which the funds will be forfeited to the government account as unclaimed funds. With respect to your personality, I will give you 30% of the total sum.Upon the receipt of your response, I will not Fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transferwill be finalized within ten (10) banking days depending on how fast we can communicate. 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 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. Please reply to my private e-mail: barrister.ben.kofa@laywer.com Best regards, Barrister Ben kofa & CO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam