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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)
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "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)
  • "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 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.
  • +2348059328405 (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.
  • barristerericopia2@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: eric opia <ericopia5@yahoo.ca>
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 08:32:44 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP



PLOT 101 IKEJA TOWN
LAGOS NIGERIA.
TEL:234-80-59328405.
PRIVATE E-MAIL:
barristerericopia2@yahoo.ca
Dear Sir,
I am barrister ERIC OPIA a solicitor at law. I am
the personal attorney to Mr.Clive Hardwood,A
national of your country, who used to work with shell
development company in Nigeria. [my client,
his wife and their only Child were involved in an
accident in which all occupants of the motor died}.
My
client {CLIVE} deposited a CONSIGNMENT as family
belongings {i.e. jewelries} the sum of $15m with
a(STANDARD LIFE BANKOFNIGERIAPLC) here in Nigeria for
himself, with the hope of transferring it to his
country as soon as he is on leave. Since his death I
have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate
any of my clients extended relatives but this has also
proved unsuccessful after these several unsuccessful I
decided to trace his last name over the Internet to
locate any member of his family, hence I am contacting
you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the
money and property left behind by my client before
they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
finance house where this huge deposits were lodged,
particularly the consignment with the BANK
where the deceased had an account valued $15m
Fifteen million us dollars only.

The firm has issued me a notice to provide the next of
kin who will inherit the deposit or have the account
confiscated within the next twenty-one official
working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in
locating the relatives of my late client, I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased I made further investigation and discovered
that Mr.CLIVE, did not declare any next of kin or
relations in all his official documents including his
deposit Certificate that was Issued to him in the
bank.

This account valued at $15 million dollars can be paid
to you and then you and me can share the money. 55% to
me and 45% to you I have all necessary legal documents
that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All
I require is your honest cooperation to enable us
seeing 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 get
back to me immdiately you receive this mail to enable
us discuss further.

Please reply to this email address:

barristerericopia2@yahoo.ca
NOTE: FOR THIS REASON KINDLY FURNISH ME WITH YOUR
CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW,
(1). YOUR FULL NAME.
(2). CURRENT CONTACT ADDRESS.
(3). CELL PHONE / FAX.
Best regards,
ERIC OPIA & ASSOCIATE
---------------------------------------------------------




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam