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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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)
  • "inheritance tax" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "william ibru" <barr_william53@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: wibru986@yahoo.dk
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2006 14:13:10 +0100
Subject: I sincerely write to seek your co-operation and trust

Barrister William Ibru,
Principal Partner,
William Ibru & Associates.
36 Fola Agoro Street,
Lagos.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am William Ibru, personal attorney to Mr Patrick A, an
expartriate who used to work with Nigeria Shell Oil Company
(NSOC), here in Nigeria. On the 2nd January 2006, my client
was killed in an auto mobile accident.Since then I have made
Several enquiries to locate any of my client's extended
relatives. This has proved unsuccessful. After several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over
the Internet hence I contacted you.

I contacted you to assist me in repartriating the money left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this deposit was lodged.The
name of the bank is Trans international bank,where the
deceased had an account valued at US$7,500,000.00(Seven
Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

The bank issued me a notice to provide the next-of- kin or
have the account confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful
in locating the the relatives, I seek your consent to
present you as the Next-of-kin to the deceased,so that the
proceeds of this account valued at US$7.5M can be paid to
you and then you and I can share the money; 55% to me and
40% to you, while 5% will be for expenses and inheritance
tax, as your government may require.

I have all necessary legal documents that will be used to
back up our inherittance claims. All I require is your
honest co-operation to enable us see the deal through. I
guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law.

To commence the process of claiming the funds, I will
require the following information:
1. your full names.
2. your telephone and fax numbers.
3. your contact address.
4. your date of birth.
5. your occupation

As soon as I recieve these information I will file-in a
formal application to the bank for the inheritance in your
name as next-of-kin of the deceased. That will enable the
bank to process the transaction with you as beneficiary.

I thank you once again and I await your urgent response .

With best regards,
William Ibru

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam