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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (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.
  • michael.attah7@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: michael attah <barr-attah66@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <michael.attah7@yahoo.it>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:24:20 +0100
Subject: Estate Of Late Engr Mark



BARRISTER MICHAEL O. ATTAH & PARTNERS.Attorney & Counselors OF THE SUPREME HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA7/14 IMB PLAZA VICTORIA ISLANDLAGOS-NIGERIAEmail :{michael.attah7@yahoo.it}
Attention:My Friend,
Compliments of the day, I hope that this letter will not constitute any sort of embarrassment to you. Please bear with me let me introduce myself. I am Barrister Michael O. Attah, a private attorney to the deceased as mentioned herein.Engr Mark, a National of your country, who owned a metal producing factory(Metal co Enterprise) in Nigeria and a personal friend died and left behind his deposit in a finance house (Bank Of Industry Ltd) valued at$15.Millon (Fifteen Million United States Dollars Only).
My relationship with Engr.Mark started way back in 1997 when I was still working with the bank as a Legal Adviser, Marina branch. We met in my social club's annual end of the year party and I introduced him to the said finance house where he deposit most of his treasures some few weeks Later, making me the Legal officer to the account which he operated until his unfortunate demise. On the 26th of July 2001, Engr.Mark, his wife and their two children were involved in a car accident. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
After the incident i contacted Engr.Mark sister (Ms Martha Stevens)which was his beneficiary/next of kin but unfortunately before she could claim his estate she too died in September 11, 2001 terrorist attack at the world trade center in the United State Of America.
See http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-name/page95.html Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of Engr Mark. extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family or anyone related to him hence I contacted you . Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives forover 2 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$15.000,000 (Fifteen Million United States Dollars Only) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money.65% to me and 35% to you.The request of a foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that My client was a foreigner and a Nigerian cannot stand as a next of kin to a foreigner. I am ready to re-negotiate the mode of sharing with you. Thereafter I will visit your country for the disbursement and investing of my share according to the percentages we agreed upon. If you find this proposal suitable for you do get back to me with the following information:
Your full Name and Contact Address, Your private telephone Number Your Age Your Occupation and Position.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please for the sake of confidentiality send your reply to my private email:{michael.attah7@yahoo.it}Hoping to receive a positive response from you.
Best regards,
Barrister Michael O. AttahAttorney & Counselors At Law.***********************************************************************BARRISTER MICHAEL O. ATTAH & PARTNERS.Attorney & Counselors OF THE SUPREME HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA7/14 IMB PLAZA VICTORIA ISLANDLAGOS-NIGERIAEmail :{michael.attah7@yahoo.it}************************************************************************
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam