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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (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.
• 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.
  • barr_jamesosoba2@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: OSOBA CHAMBERS <jamesosoba18@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 10:15:31 +0000
Subject: Dear Cole, my regards to you and all the members of your family



FROM JAMES OSOBA (ESQ)Plot 12 Satellite TownLagos-Nigeria Dear Cole, My name is James Osoba, Barrister at law, and the Personal Attorney to late Mr. Rick Cole,a
foreigner who used to work with Jangle Cement Company here in Nigeria, on 27 January, 2002 my
client and his entire family were involved in a bomb blast that claimed more than a thousand
lives in Nigeria's commercial city of Lagos. Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my late clients extended relatives and
this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace
is relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence I
contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund left behind by my late
client because the bank has asked me as his lawyer to produce his next of kin. Particularly, the Bank has given me a notice to provide the next of kin to claim the contract
valued at about US$6.5 Million Dollars or have the amount confiscated, since I have been
unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over years, now I seek your consent to present you as
the next of kin of the deceased since you are a foreigner and as well have the same surname with
that of my late client, the proceeds of this account valued at US$6.5 Million can be paid to you. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seen this deal through. I guarantee that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law of your country and my country too as a professional legal attorney in the field. Finally, kindly maintain confidentiality between you and I on this transaction and reply me via
my private Email: (barr_jamesosoba2@yahoo.co.uk) for security reason. I await your urgent response. Best Regards, Barrister James Osoba (Esq)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam