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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "waiting for 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.
  • +23417621326 (Nigeria, landline)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Patrick Uffort <barristerpatrick_u@myway.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:46:34 -0300
Subject: Estate of late Engr.Martins


Patrick Uffort
147 Adetokubo Ademola Way
Victoria Island
Lagos-Nigeria
Telephone:234-1-7621326


I am sorry for the inconvenience this email will give you but i will appreciate if you can make out time to go through my message.

I am Barrister Patrick Uffort, a solicitor at law and personal attorney to late Engr. Martin,a national of your country, He was formally a director with Kobe Steel Corporation company, a Japanese company. My client, his wife and their three children were involved in a motor accident along University road Lagos and unfortunately the family died in the accident.

Prior to his death, my client deposited US$18.5 million (Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with a bank here in my country. This money was raised through inflated contracts in his company and as such the company is not aware of the deposited fund.

The status now is that my client left no WILL or any information about his next of kin and if I inform the company about the fund, they will definitely want to claim it from the bank. In view of this, I have decided to contact you to assist me in getting this fund from the bank since nobody has the knowledge of the deposited fund.

We can get the fund from the bank provided you follow and adhere to my instructions to the letter. I will use your name to get the probate documents at the federal high court presenting you as the executor of my client's estate. I believe this is privilege information, which I expect you to keep confidential because of my profession. The business will not take us time.

I am ready to give you 50% of the total sum for your co-operation. If you are interested, send me:
1.Your full names,
2.Your Contact address
3.Your present age
4.Your occupation and place of work
5.telephone/mobile and fax numbers, as I will like a faster communication medium.

Waiting for your urgent response

Sincerely
Barrister Patrick Uffort

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam