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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (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)
  • "million us 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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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 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.
  • +23417212770 (Nigeria, landline)
• 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.
  • walealiu_22@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Wale Aliu <walealiu_21@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 11:20:33 +0200
Subject: Hello Dear

MIME-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: text/plain

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 11:06:51 +0200 (CEST)



BARRISTER WALE ALIU(ESQ)

Senior Advocate, International Legal Practitioner

PUBLIC RELATIONSHIP & Associates Chamber's

Oshodi.

Private Email: walealiu_22@yahoo.co.jp

Office Tel: 234-1-7212770.



Hello Dear,



I am Barrister Wale Aliu personal Attorney to late Mr.Peter Goodman a national of your country who used to work with Ashanti Gold Development Company in Ghana, Here in after shall be referred to as my client. My client as his family lost their lives in the Kano plane crash on 4th May 2002 when they went for holiday as you can see

http://news.bbc.co.uk./1/hi/world/africa/1968616.stm. since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.



After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet and our chamber of commerce, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where my client lodge these huge deposits.



Particularly, the bank, where the deceased had an amount valued US$10.1Million US Dollars. The bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the funds confiscated within a short period of time. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over some years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since he bear the same last name with you so that the proceeds of this amount of US$10.1million can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make, all I require is your honest co-operation 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 endeavour to contact me immediately through my e-mail address walealiu_22@yahoo.co.jp for briefings. Your private telephone number is also needed for easier communication.



Faithfully Yours,

Barrister Wale Aliu, esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam