419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- marshallgrosboll@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: marshallgrosboll <marshallgrosboll@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2014 07:08:57 +0000
Subject: Dear Pessach, My name is Barr.Marshall Grosboll,a solicitor at law.I
have an important message for you concerning the death of Mr.Pessach, who was
my client until his death, he bear the same name with you. His funds valued
at (Usd$5.5 Million) was left behind in one of the banks here in my country
(Togo) as a result of accident that took his life and his family. Contact me
at(marshallgrosboll@gmail.com) For full details and how to proceed .I awaits
your urgent response,

Dear Pessach, My name is Barr.Marshall Grosboll,a solicitor at law.I
have an important message for you concerning the death of Mr.Pessach,
who was my client until his death, he bear the same name with you. His
funds valued at (Usd$5.5 Million) was left behind in one of the banks
here in my country (Togo) as a result of accident that took his life
and his family. Contact me at(marshallgrosboll@gmail.com) For full
details and how to proceed .I awaits your urgent response,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam