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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
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "huge deposit" (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.
• 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.
  • deniscoleman2001@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: denis coleman <denis_coleman100@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 14:26:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: urgent please!


From Denis Coleman
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Barrister Denis Coleman, a solicitor at law. I am the personal
Attorney
to Mr. Ronald Hills a national of your country, who lived in Nigeria.
Here
in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April
2001,my
client, was involved in a car accident along sagbama express road.
All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the bank
where this huge deposits was lodged.Particularly, the CITI BANK NIGERIA
PLC
where the deceased had an account valued at about US$18.6 million
dollars
has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confisicated within the next ten official working days. Since I have
been
unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 4 years now I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you
have the
same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$18.6
million dollars can be paid to you.
If you agree we can discuss your percentage. I have all necessary
legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I
require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I
guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Awaiting your response.
Please reply through this e-mail:deniscoleman2001@yahoo.co.uk
Best regards,


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam