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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: basil_robert2008@live.com
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:09:12 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: FROM: BARR. ROBERT BASIL (ESQ)


FROM: BARR. ROBERT BASIL (ESQ)
ROBERT & ASSOSCIATES,
4 AlbertEmbankments, London
SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.

Attention: My Good Friend,

Iam Barrister Robert Basil (Esq). I have a client who bears the same name with you, and a national of your Country who used towork with Mekon Associates Company in London. On the 2nd of August2003, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in acar accident along Manchester Express Road. All occupants of thevehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
 
Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's extendedrelatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these severalunsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over theInternet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence Icontacted you. I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating themoney left behind by my client before they got confiscated or declaredunserviceable by the Finance House where these huge deposits
werelodged. Particularly, the Finance House where the deceased hadan account valued at about US$10.5M has issued me a notice to providethe next-of-kin or have the account confiscated within the next tenofficial working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locatingthe relatives for over nine (9)months now, I seek your consent topresent you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds ofthis account valued at US$10.5 Million can be paid to you and then you and I canshare the money, 60% to me and 35% to you, while 5% should be forexpenses or tax as your government may required.
 
 
I have all necessarylegal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make, allI require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transactionthrough. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimatearrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law and if youare interest to assist me in this transaction please do send methere quired to send bellow.

Information request for yourtransfer.

(1)YOUR FULL NAME
(2)FULL ADDRESS OF YOUR CITY,STATE AND COUNTRY
(3)PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE
(4)COMPANY NAME,POSITION AND ADDRESS
(5)PROFESSION, AGE AND MARITAL STATUS
(6)A COPY OF YOUR INT'L PASSPORT/DRIVERS LICENSE.

Please get intouch with me by my secured and confidential email address(basil_robert2008@live.com) immediately you acknowledge the good receipt of this message.

Anticipating your prompt response.
Yours Sincerely.
BAR. ROBERT BASIL (ESQ).



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