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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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• 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.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • robertclarkson7@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ROBERT CLARKSON" <robertclarkson207@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:25:52 +0300
Subject: I await your positive response soonest.


Dear Friend,

I am Robert Clarkson, a solicitor at law. I have contacted you on a matter
of urgent importance, this is after a careful thought that you might be
capable of handling this profitable business proposal. On the 21st of April
2006, just a few months after he contracted me as his attorney here in
Nigeria, my client was involved in a car accident.

Unfortunately he lost his life.I have contacted you to assist in
repatriating the money he left behind before it is confiscated or
declared unserviceable by the Bank. The bank where the deceased had an
account valued at $3.8 Million has issued me with a notice to provide the
next-of-kin or have the account confiscated soon.

My client did not state any next-of-kin in all his official documents with
the bank, and I am seeking to present you to the bank as his next-of-kin,
your choice is very appropriate because you are a foreign national, so it
will be easy for me to get the necessary legal documents in your name and
present to the bank for the transfer of this deposit to you.

I also want to assure you that this transaction is absolutely risk free as
everything will be handled legally by myself as the executor of the Will
which also gives me the final authority to present you as the next-of-kin
and legal beneficiary to the funds for onward transfer of the funds to you,
subsequently to be shared between both of us.

If your willing to have this transaction with me kindly forward to me the
following information below to enable us proceed for the transfer of the
fund to your bank account:

1)Your full name

2)Your full contact address

3)Your direct telephone number(mobile)

4)Your Nationality

5)Your Age

6)Your present Occupation

7) Gender

Feel free to contact me on my personal email address(
robertclarkson7@gmail.com) for us to proceed.

I await your positive response soonest.

My regards,

Robert Clarkson Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam