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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:

• 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. 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.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (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.
  • +2348066059484 (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.
  • davischambers_lawfirm@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Elvis Davis" <davischambers3@unimail.mn>
Reply-To: davischambers_lawfirm@yahoo.es
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:20:15 -0800
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSITION.


From: BARR.ELVIS DAVIS (ESQ)
E. DAVIS & ASSOSCIATES,
24 Habert Macaulay way,
Lagos, Nigeria.
E-MAIL:- davischambers_lawfirm@yahoo.es
Tel:- 234-80-660-594-84

Attention: Dear Good Friend,

I am Barrister Elvis Davis (Esq). I have a client Mr Mark who bears the same
last name with you, and a national of your Country who used to work with
shell Associates oil Company in Nigeria, On the 2nd of August 2005, my
client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident
along Shagamu Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost
their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my
client's extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives
over the internet name and contact directory, to locate any member of his
family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to
assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my late client before
they got confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance House where
these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Finance House where the
deceased had an account valued at about US$10M 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 nine (9)
months now, 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$10M can be paid
to you and then you and I can share the money, 50% to me and 50% for 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 co-operation to enable us see this
transaction 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 by my secured and confidential email address (
davischambers_lawfirm@yahoo.es ) immediately you acknowledge the good
receipt of this message, do not forget to send me your direct telephone
number, so that I can put a call through to you for an extensive discussion
on this deal.

Anticipating your prompt response.

CALL ON US--- Tel: 234-80-660-594-84

Yours Sincerely,

BAR. ELVIS DAVIS (ESQ).
Principal Partner, (E. DAVIS Chambers Lagos, Nigeria.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam