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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • ekeduru_legalservice@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ekeduruman@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006 21:08:18 +0000
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?VERY=20URGENT?=

FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER EKE DURU,
NIKY PLAZA 5th FLOOR FLAT 4
24 AWOLOWO WAY IKEJA LAGOS NIGERIA

Dear Friend

I am Barr Eke Duru, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr
John.T Schwind a national of your country, who used to work with Nigeria
National Petroleum Corporation. Hereinafter aspanda be referred to as my
client. On May 2003, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved
in a car accident along Port Harcourt-Owerri Express Way. All occupants
of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives.

Since then, I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate
any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved nsuccessful After
these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over
the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.


I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$12.1million
left behind by my client before it gets Confisicated or declared unserviceable
by the Security Finance Firm where this huge amount were deposited. The
said Security Finance Firm has issued me a notice to provide the next of
kin or have the account confisicated within the next fourteen official working
days.

For the fact that I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for
over 3 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin
to the deceased, since you have the same last name with my client, 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 claim.

All I require from you is your honest cooperation and they are:

1.Your Full Name.
2.Your Direct Phone And Fax Number.
3.Your Mailing address.
4.Your Complete E-mail address.

And I guarantee you that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Email:ekeduru_legalservice@myway.com

Best Regards,
Barrister Eke Duru

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam