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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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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "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 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.
  • barr_abu_hassan2008@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "barr_abu_hassan2013 Gazeta.pl" <barr_abu_hassan2013@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: barr_abu_hassan2008@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:26:59 -0700
Subject: Please Treat As Urgent......


ABUBAKAR HASSAN & ASSOCIATE
Solicitors & Legal Practitioners
Office Add: Plot 1217 Ademola Adetokunbo
Street Milverton Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Barrister Abubakar Hassan, a solicitor at law. I am the personal
attorney to Mr.David Mark,a native of your country, who used to work with
Shell Oil Development Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to
as my client.

On the 31 July, 2004, my client, his wife and their three children were
involved in a plane crash while on a trip to his offcial holiday leave . All
occupants of the plane unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have
made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended
relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.
Unfortunately he is now late as he was amongst those that died in that
plane crash.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to locate you with
trust, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating
the money and properties left behind by my late client before they get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit
were lodged. Particularly, the UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC where the deceased
had an account valued at about US$9.5 Million, has issued me a mandate
notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the account confiscated within the
6 weeks.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name with him, so that the proceeds of this
account valued at US$9.5 Million can be paid to you and then you and I can
share the money. 50% to me and 40% to you while 10% will be for any expenses
that may come up during the transaction.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup 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 in
touch with me immediately through this email {barr_abu_hassan2008@yahoo.com}
truly as I do not have much time in my disposal.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation.

Best Regards,
Barrister.Abubakar Hassan{san}

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam