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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:
  • "affidavit of claim" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "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)
  • "urgent assistance" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348038533444 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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_choy@fastermail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: choy yip <choy_y19@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barrister_choy@fastermail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:17:15 +0000
Subject: Goodday (Othman)


Choy Choong Yip & Bar Associate
Attorney Avenue plot 6785 Lagos,Nigeria
Private Email: barrister_choy@fastermail.com
Cell Phone :+234-803-853-3444

Dear Othman,

It is with heartfelt hope that I write to seek your co-operation and urgent assistance in the context stated below, I am Attorney Choy Choong Yip. I am the Personal Attorney to your late uncle(Dr Walter Othman). I got your contact through the help of my sister-in-law that works with the American Chambers of Commerce and Tourism, due I did not disclose to her my humble intention for an honest foreigner like you, Having noted the confidence reposed on your person by the sponsor of the recommendation.Your late uncle retired on the 20th day of October 2005. After 3 (days), your late uncle died in a (PLANE CRASH) on his way to Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria for a Conference meeting having with the Federal Government of Nigeria. You can view the Web: Http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/10/23/nigeria.plane/

The pilot of Bellview Airlines Flight 210 pilot issued a distress call just before the control tower lost sight of the plane, about three minutes after takeoff, officials said. All (117) people aboard a passenger jet that crashed shortly after take-off from Lagos are dead, including several high-level US/Nigerian officials. Your late uncle deposited the total sum of {$12.5 Million} in BANK, hoping of transferring the fund to his country as soon as he comes back from the conference.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his First and last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared serviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Bank Where the deceased had an account valued at about $12.5 Million, Has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives, i seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same name, so that the proceeds of this account valued at $12.5 Million can be paid to you as the next of kin. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this dealt through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any reach of the law. Please if your are willing to assist me, as a good christian, I will invest my own share in your country. Please we have to join hand as blood relative and get this fund out from Bank immediately, Before the Bank officials will transfer the money to the Federal Government as (UNCLAIMED FUND).

Meanwhile, 30% of the said fund should be paid to me, then 50% to you, while 20% can also be paid to you, Incase if the bank demands for any legal documents, Such as (AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM) from the Federal High Court Of Justice in Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Kindly consent to this mail and send me your full informations

(1) YOUR FULL NAME
(2) YOUR CONTAC ADDRESS
(3) YOUR TELEPHONE&FAX
(4) YOUR OCCUPATION & AGE

To enable me tender an application to the Finance house as the new beneficiary and feel free to call me for more details on my cell phone :+234-803-853-3444.

Thanks and God bless you and your entire family.

Best Regards,

Attorney Choy Choong Yip

PLEASE ALL REPLY TO MY PRIVATE MAIL BOX{barrister_choy@fastermail.com}

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam