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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "barrister" (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.
  • barristercatoki@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: chrisatoki@zipmail.com.br
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:21:19 -0700
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?VERY=20URGENT?=

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Chris Atoki an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name
Mr Andreas Schranner,who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client,died
in an AF4590 plane crash in July 2000. See this website below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my
client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance
company where this deposit valued at ($9,000,000.00) is lodged This finance
company has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account
will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, so that the proceeds of

this account can be paid to you.Then we can share the amount on a mutually
agreed percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's
next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to
enable us see this transaction through.This will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please be informed that your utmost confidentiality is required. If this
interests you contact me on my email barristercatoki@yahoo.co.uk.
Best regards,
Barrister Chris atoki





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam