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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)
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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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (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.
  • barrister_harrydouglas1@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Harry Douglas" <barr_harrydouglas97@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barrister_harrydouglas1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:09:17 +0100
Subject: VERY URGENT.

From Barr.Harry Douglas.
H.D & Associate Chambers
Plot 12 Abiodu Cresent, Ikoyi
EMAIL: barrister_harrydouglas1@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Sir/Madam,

Do not be surprised to receive my letter, however it's with trust and
confidence that I present this business to you. I am Barrister Harry
Douglas. A solicitor at law and the personal attorney to one Mr. Mark
Garrido . A national of your country who works with Mobil Petroleum Company
here in Nigeria. On the 21st of April 2005, my client, his wife and two
children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama express road. All
occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then, I have made several inquires to your embassy to locate any of
his relative's, but of no avail hence i contacted you. Why I contacted you
is because In my last Meeting with the Mobil Petroleum company and the bank
where my client had an account valued at USD$14 million dollars, they
jointly decided and asked me to present the next of kin whom will receive
his money or it would be inc luded on their annual profit for the year 2006.

However, since i have been unable in locating the relative for over Two (2)
years now, I seek your consent to present you as the relative since you bear
the same name and from the same country so that this account valued at
USD$14 Million can be paid to you then you and I can share the money
equally. If you accept this offer. kindly send me your acceptance letter
and your phone number to enable us discuses further about this transaction.

Very Respectfully,

Barr. Harry Douglas.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam