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.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (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.)
- "@lawyer.com" (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.
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.
- lawyer_1@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Debra Jean Arkens <mike@mjwsjw.co.uk>
Reply-To: arkensmike@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2015 07:56:28 -0700
Subject: Don't forget to do charity with some of the money you receive and
remember the poor and the needy .

--
Attn: My Dear Friend,

I am Mrs Debra Jean Arkens, I am a US citizen, 60 years Old. I reside in
Minnesota. My residential address: 3834 Oak Terrace White Bear Lake, MN
55110-4872, United States, but there are chances that i may relocate
since I am now rich. I am super happy.. I am one of those that took part
in the International Lottery Games/Contract Claims/inheritance payment
PROGRAM few years ago and they refused to release the payment. I thought
it was a joke or scam because I have paid over US$120,000 while in the
US, trying to get my payment all to no avail..So I decided to travel
down to South Africa with all the contract documents, I was directed to
meet Barrister Kevin Chow, the Legal Paying Director and a member of the
ILG Boards. But his presently in Canada where your payment will be
directly transfer to you . You contact him on his contact information:
Phone: +1 909 441 6806 , Email: lawyer_1@lawyer.com He explained
everything to me and advise everyone to be very careful and stop all
further communication SMS+pHONE, with anyone who is contacting you
concerning any form of payment, They are fake.

The paying bank contacted me for the outstanding claim. Right now I am
the most happiest woman on earth because I am $3,900,000.00 Million
richer. I thank God for everything because this amount was calculated
together with accumulated interest. I am contacting you because
Barrister Kevin Chow, showed me the full information of those that are
yet to receive their payments and I saw your email address ID / User
name as one of the beneficiaries. So I decided to email you and also
advise you to stop dealing impostors who does not have your fund, they
are only making money out of you. I will also advise you to contact
Barrister Kevin Chow as soon as possible today. You are only expected to
pay US$350 for your authentication paper works to enable you receive the
funds with the right transfer documents. This amount is the only amount
i paid. The information required are : Your Full Name as in ID Card:
Country Origin..Occupation:. Gender:. Age:.. Phone:... Don't forget to
do charity with some of the money you receive and remember the poor and
the needy .

Thank You and Be Blessed.

Debra Jean Arkens.
3834 Oak Terrace White Bear Lake,
MN 55110-4872, United States

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam