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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)
  • "any lucrative business in your country" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million british pounds" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Ibrahim Mahmud Esq" <mahmudibrahim@excite.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: ibrahimmahmud_os@excite.com
Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2006 03:06:35 -0700
Subject: Next of Kin Needed.

Dear Sir/Madam,
STRICTLY A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL
This is a proposal in context but actually an appeal soliciting your
unreserved assistance in consummating an urgent transaction requiring
maximum confidence. Though this approach appears desperate, I can assure
you that whatever questions you would need to ask or any other thing you
will need to know regarding this proposal will be adequately answered to
give you a clearer understanding of it, so as to arrive at a successful
conclusion.
I am Br. Ibrahim Mahmud, the Personal Attorney to a Foreign Contractor,
who worked with a Multinational Oil Firm in United Kingdom. On Saturday,
the 21st of April 2001, my client, his wife and their two children were
involved in a car accident along Oxford University Road London
unfortunately, two of them died in a car accident. He had a closing
balance worth GBP10, 000.000.00 (Ten Million British Pounds Sterling)
with a Security Vault in United Kingdom, my resident country (UK). Since
the tragic incident involving late Morris Thompson and his family, the
bank has waited for close to Five years for a next of kin as beneficiary
with no success. Valuable efforts have been made by the banks management
and me to get in touch with any of his Direct or Extended family Members
but I personally found out that he died with his wife and their
daughter.
The only name of next of kin given to me by Morris Thompson
unfortunately was with him is unknown to the banks management. Since it
is the Law in Britain that at the expiration of Six (6) years, the funds
will be marked unclaimable and reverted to the ownership of the Britain
Government if nobody applies to claim the fund, I am taking this
advantage in order to better my life and that of my family. I am now
seeking your permission and assistance to have you stand as next of kin
to late Morris Thompson, so that the money is released to you as the
next of kin. All documents and proof to enable you get this fund will be
carefully worked out by me because all are in my custody.
I am assuring you that this transaction and its procedures is 100% legal
and risk free involvement. Your share stays while the rest will be for
me. The sharing of the fund between the two of us will be as follows:
30% of the total sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to
the success of this transaction. 65% will be for me, and the balance of
5% for the settlement of all local and foreign expenses incurred in
the course of this Transaction. Upon the successful completion of this
transfer, I will come to meet with you for disbursements in the ratio
stated above, and probably invest my share in any lucrative Business in
your country subject to your kind advice. As soon as I receive an
acknowledgement of the receipt of this message in Acceptance, I will
immediately start up with the process of claim. If this proposal is
acceptable by you, kindly reply me immediately you get this mail. I want
you to also furnish me with the following information:
1. Your private telephone/fax or preferably your mobile numbers.
2. Your full names and address.
3. Your Full Banking Details where the Fund will be transferred to. Or
you can open a new account Thank you in advance for your anticipated
co-operation. I shall give you more details on what we are to do to
claim the Fund without any hitch.
Note: This transaction must be kept STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET
because of its nature. I look forward to receiving your prompt response.

Yours
Truly,
Barrister Ibrahim Mahmud Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam