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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "PATRICIA CEDILLAS" <patcedi2006@msn.com>
Reply-To: mudisat_brown_61@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 02:02:37 +0000
Subject: PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

FROM THE DESK OF:
BARRISTER MUDISAT BROWN
PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY SUPREME CHAMBERS
35 EWU AVENUE,VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS NIGERIA.

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Sir/ Madam,
I am Barrister Mudisat Brown, a Solicitor. I am the
Personal Attorneyto late Mr. Wiiliam, an expatriate engineer who used
to work with AtlasDredging Company in Nigeria. On the 8th of April 2002,
my client, hiswife And their two children were involved in a car
accident along IbadanExpress way. All occupants of the vehicle
unfortunately lost their lives.

Sincethen I have made several enquiries to your embassy to
locate any of myclient's extended relatives which has proved
unsuccessful. After these severalunsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace
his
relatives over theInternet to locate any member of his family but to no
avail, hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the
money left behind by my late client before it gets confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit was lodged. the bank where
my
late client deposited US$8.5 million [ eight million five hundred thousands
united states dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or
face the risk havingthe money confiscated within the next thirty official
working days.Since I have been unsuccesful in locating his
relatives for over two years, I decided to seek your consent to present you
as the next of kin of thedeceased since you are from the same country so
thatthe proceeds of this amount valued at $8.5 million dollars can be paid
toyou and then you and I
can share the money. 50% to you and 45% to me, while5% should be forexpenses
or taxes as may be required by your government. I will procure all necessary
legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we maymake.

All I need from you is your honest co-operation toenable us see this deal
through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under alegitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. Pleaseget in touch with me
through this email as we are time bound to materializethis claim.

Yours in service,
Barr. Mudisat Brown Esq.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam