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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.

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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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • +2348030480743 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "williamsibru" <williamsibru@terra.com.mx>
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 22:04:34 -0600
Subject: I AWAIT YOUR REPLY




Barrister William Ibru,
Principal Partner,
William Ibru & Associates.
36 Fola Agoro Street,
Lagos.


Dear Sir/Madam,


I am William Ibru, personal attorney to Mr Patrick A, an expatriate who used to work with Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), here in Nigeria. On the 21st of October 2005, my client was killed in an auto mobile accident. Since then I have made Several enquiries to locate any of my client's extended relatives. This has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet hence I contacted you.

I contacted you to assist me in repartriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit was lodged. The name of the bank is Trans international bank, where the deceased had an account valued at US$7,500,000.00(S even Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
&nb sp;
The bank issued me a notice to provide the next-of- kin or have the account confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the the relatives, I seek your consent to present you as the Next-of-kin to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$7.5M can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money 60% to me and 40% to you.

I have all necessary legal documents that will be used to back up our inheritance claims. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see the deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Meanwhile you are welcome to call me for any further clarification on this matter.
I thank you once again and I await your urgent response

With best regards,
William Ibru
Tel : +234 803 048-0743

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam