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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• 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.

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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:
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.

Fraud email example:

From: EBIRI awele <ebiri_awele@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2008 01:57:14 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Awaiting your response


Hello,
I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise. I am Barrister Awele Ebiri, I am the personal Attorney to a late expatriate oil consultant. On the 21st of April 2002, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Badagry express Way. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives, which have proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact 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 bank where these huge deposits were lodged particularly the Zenith Bank PLC, Lagos Branch where the Deceased had an account valued at about US$25.7million dollars.
The Finance House has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the Account confiscated within the next ten official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 Years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$25.7million dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money. Note that if this money gets into government hands, the officials there will not use the money for development but will manipulate ways in which this money will be paid into there personal account and they will share the money that they did not work for.
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we will be making. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement. Please get in touch with me and include your phone number to enable us discuss further.
Thank you very much for your co-operation.
Best regards,
Barrister Awele Ebiri.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam