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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:

• 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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "million 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)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • barrmusainfo@yahoo.com.mx (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bala Musa" <balamusa125@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barrmusainfo@yahoo.com.mx
Date: Wed, 02 May 2007 07:28:10 +0000
Subject: Attn: Friend, Your Inheritance.

BARRISTER BALA MUSA. (BL,LLB-HONS)
MUSA CHAMBERS & SOLICITORS,
PLOT 339 AHMADU BELLO WAY.
VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS NIGERIA.

Dear Friend,

I am highly esteemed, to write you this very urgent letter I am Barrister Bala Musa, a Solicitor and Personal Attorney to (Peterson), a national of your country, who before his death was an oil merchant who works in Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company {NLNG}. On the 21st April 1997, my client his wife and their only kid were involved In a car accident along Lagos Abuja Express Road.Three of them unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I as the Personal Attorney of the deceased had made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relative but this has proved unsuccessful.

After several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to trace his relatives through the Internet, to locate any member of his family but to no avail,hence I contact you.I have dicided to contact 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 were lodged. Particularly, the Bank where the Deceased had an Account valued at about $10,5M {Ten Million five hundred thousand United States Dollars} as at last two months assessment.

The Bank has issued me a notice as the Attorney to the Deceased to provide the Next of Kin or have the Account confiscated within the Next 21 official working days since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over the years that I have been searching. On this order,I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since you bear the same surname,as the bank is ready to listen to you provided you have the correct Information of the Account,which i will give to you immediately you agreed to assist me,so that the proceeds of this Bank Account valued at $10,5Million Dollars can be paid out in your favour.

All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through.I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate banking arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.I have agreed to give you 40% for your assistance, while 60% will be for me.All I requires is your onest, cooperation your private telephone, fax number and your address to enable us seeing this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law.

Please, E-mail me here: barrmusainfo@yahoo.com.mx

Best Regards,
BARRISTER BALA MUSA.
{SAN}
MEMBER OF THE ENGLISH BAR

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam