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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "affidavit " (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.

Fraud email example:

From: Patterson Gerald <gerald.patterson@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: patterson.gerald@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:03:08 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Consent Required.


Richard, Abiola & Co.
Solicitors and Legal Consultants
101 Adeola Hopewell,
Victoria Island,
Lagos-Nigeria.

Dear Beese,

I am Patterson Gerald Esq., a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a Partner of the above-mentioned firm and the Personal Attorney to Mr. Mark Beese, Who is a national of your country. On the 21st of April 2004, my client was involved in a car accident along Maryland express road Lagos. Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, since then i have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives and this has also proved unsuccessful.

Consequently, the Bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the deposit confiscated and transferred to state treasury. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over some years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you share the same surname so that the proceeds of the account valued at Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Currency can be transferred to you for both of us to share the funds; Fifty Percent to me and Forty Five to you, while Five Percent should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.

After all the necessary several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I contacted you to assist in retrieving the funds left behind before it will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where my client lodged this huge amount of money. I have the Deposit Certificate my late client made with the bank and other necessary legal documents such as affidavit authenticating you to make claim will obtained, Probate letter of Administration to backup the claim will also be procured legitimately and copies given to you, in view of the above, you are to forward the following, YOUR FULL NAMES, ADDRESS, MARITAL STATUS, OCCUPATION, AGE AND TELEPHONE NUMBER for processing of the legal documents upon receipt and acceptance of this mail.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. You may ask why I contacted you, you have to understand that you role is prominent in this transaction because without your assistance as a foreigner having the same last name with my client, I can not stand in as the next of kin. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law.

If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology but if not, then contact me at once to indicate your interest, By giving me your telephone number so that I too can contact you and all the your details for commencement of processing.

Thanks for your kind co-operation.

Regards,

Patterson Gerald Esq.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This mail transmission is been sent by a lawyer. It contains information that is confidential, privileged, proprietary, or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure.There is no intent on the part of the sender to waive any privilege,including the attorney-client privilege, that may attach to this communication.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam