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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:

• 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)
  • "million us 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)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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.
  • barristersmithjohn_chambers1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Smith John" <smithjohn45@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barristersmithjohn_chambers1@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2006 13:50:16 +0000
Subject: Hello


Dear Friend,

I sincerely apologize for intruding into your privacy,especially by
contacting you through this means for a business transaction of this
magnitude,but due to its seriousness and urgency it therefore became
necessary for me to seek for your assistance.

I am Barrister Smith John, counsel to late Engr. Han, a national of your
country and was a seasoned contractor with oil services companies, here in
Lagos, Nigeria. He lost his life on the 12th March,2003 in a ghastly motor
accident together with his wife and children along the Lekki
Pennisula- Epe expressway here in Nigeria. Before his sudden and mysterious
death,he deposited the sum of $10 Million US dollars with a Bank in a fixed
account here in Lagos, Nigeria which I was quite aware of as all the legal
proceedings was duly carried out by my humble self.After his
death,almost three years ago, i made several approaches to your embassy to
locate any of his relatives so as to come and stand as the next of kin to my
late client in order to have this huge sum transferred to his or her
possession but all my effort proved abortive.

After several unsuccessful attempts in locating any of his relations and the
latest ultimatum given to me by the Bank, mandating me to provide my late
client's next of kin within the next two weeks OR they confisticate the
money, which i wouldn't live to see it happen,hence my decision to
contact you so that i can present you as the next of kin to my late client.
All I demand from you is your honest co-operation so that this fund {10
million US dollars} can be transferred into any account of your choice
within the shortest time possible.

For your assistance and co-operation, I have decided to have the money
shared as follows; 40% for you, 60% for me. What I introduced to you might
be a smack of an unethical practice but this is a once in a lifetime
opportunity that is capable of making things better for us and moreover, if
I fail to present to the Bank my late client's next of kin in the next
couple of weeks, the truth is that this money would not be taken by the
government but by some greedy officials of the Bank and i would not fold my
arms and watch this happen hence my decision to contact you.

I also want to use to this medium to assure you that this transaction is
100% risk free and my position as the counsel to the late depositor of the
fund, it has been legally planned to avoid any hitch or breach of law both
during and after the transfer might have been effected to you. And
also,every information that will back you up as the next of kin to my late
client shall be given to you as soon as i have your consent.

The following information will be required from you in your reply;
1.} your full name,
2.} Your residential/contact address,
3.} Your phone/fax number,
4.} Your Occupation and;
5.} Your Age.

For purpose of security and the confidentiality of this transaction you

can reply this mail to this my private e-mail address;
barristersmithjohn_chambers1@yahoo.com
I look forward to receive your positive response soonest.

Best Regards,
Barrister Smith John.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam