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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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. )
  • "inheritance tax" (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. )
  • "await your urgent response" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: barrister obi igwe <barrobi_55@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <barristerobi123@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:10:07 +0100
Subject: reply needed



Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Barrister Obi Igwe personal attorney to Mr Patrick Adams, an expatriate who used to work with Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), here in Nigeria. On the 21st of December 2006, my client was killed in an auto mobile accident.Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my client's extended
Relatives. This has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet hence I contacted you.

I contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit was lodged. The name of the bank is Fidelity Bank, where the deceased had an account valued at US$178,600.

The bank issued me a notice to provide the next-of- kin or have the account confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives, 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$178,600 can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money; 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% will be for expenses and inheritance tax, as your government may require.

I have all necessary legal documents that will be used to back up our inheritance claims. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see the deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law.

To commence the process of claiming the funds, I will require the following information:
1. your full names.
2. your telephone and fax numbers.
3. your contact address.
4. your date of birth.
5. your occupation

As soon as I receive this information I will file-in a formal application to the bank for the inheritance in your name as next-of-kin of the deceased. That will enable the bank to process the transaction with you as beneficiary.
I thank you once again and I await your urgent response

With best regards,
Barr Obi Igwe
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam