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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- barrjohnedward12@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Ms Patricia Botin <patriciabotin7@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrsanapatricia@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 12:49:52 +0100
Subject: I HAVE WILLED THE SUM OF $17,250,000.00USD TO YOU...FOR THE HELP OF
THE POOR IN YOUR COUNTRY

Hello Dear,

Though this medium internet has been greatly
abused, but I chose to reach you through it because it still remains the
fastest medium of communication .However, this correspondent is
unofficial and private.
Please give me this little chance to explain
myself to you, I would have like to meet you face to face before
departing from this mother earth but my illness continue to deprive the
chance, but I know I am
strong even if I die on the process of this operation I will still praise ALMIGHTY.

My
name is Mrs. Patricia Botin I am a dying woman and i decided to donate
what I have to you which is to be used to assist poor people and charity
homes. I am 60 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer
for about 2
years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me
everything he worked for and because the doctors told me I will not live
longer than some weeks because of my health, I decided to WILL/donate
the sum of $17,250,000(Seventeen million two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help the
motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows
in general.

I wish you all the best and may the good Lord
bless you abundantly, and please use the funds well and always extend
the good work to others should encase I did not survive this major
operation I am about
to go through now, but all I need now is prayers.

I
will like you to Contact my lawyer for all the assistance you need to
get this money transferred to you. (Bar John Edward, E-mail:
barrjohnedward12@gmail.com) with his specified contact and let him
knows
all I just said about this money, ($17,250,000.00) although he is aware
of my intention. Please send him all the below information for easy
communication.

Your full name...........
Your mobile number............
Your age.......................
Your sex...........................
Your identification proof ....................
Your occupation....................
Your country and city.......................

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality and trust in this
matter to accomplish my heart desire, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish.
Thanks and God bless.

>From Mrs. Patricia.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam