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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "DAN IGE" <dan_ige@msn.com>
Reply-To: danige@myway.com
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 11:26:17 +0000
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam

Dear Sir/Madam

I am Barrister Dan Ige a solicitor at law.
I am the personal attorney to Mr. Kaiser Arthur, a national of your country
who use to work with Shell development Company in Nigeria. Here in after
shall be referred to as my client.On the 21st of April 1999,my client, his
wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu
express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquires to your embassy to locate any of my
clients extended relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful. After these
several unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his family, hence I
contacted you.
I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the bank where this huge deposit is lodged. Particularly, the finance
company where the deceased had an account valued at about 6.5
Million-Dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have
the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 3 years now I
seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of mr kaiser Arthur, so
that the proceeds of this account including valuables and cash valued at
US$6.5 Million can be paid to you and then you and me can share the
money.80% to me and 20% to you I have all necessary legal documents that can
be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest
co-operation to enable us conclude this deal.I guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law.

(1) Your personal phone/fax numbers preferable cell.
(2) Your name in full.
(3) Your residential address.

Best regard,

Bar. Dan Ige

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam