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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)
• This email message is a next of kin 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.
  • victoryabc123@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Russell Noel" <jubilee101@msn.com>
Reply-To: victoryabc123@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 09:26:16 +0000
Subject: Please Respond Now!

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Russell Noel, a solicitor at law and the personal attorney to late Mr.
Mark, a national of your country who used to be a private contractor with
the Shell Petroleum Development Company, Lagos, herein after shall be
referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2002, my client, his wife and
their three children were involved in an auto accident along Sagbama Express
Road, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives and since
then, I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
client's extended relatives. This has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name
over the internet to locate any member of his family hence I contacted 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
these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Eco Bank International
where the deceased had an account valued at about $10.5 million U.S. dollars
has issued me a notice to provide an INHERITANT or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued at $10.5Million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can
share the money as thus 45% for me, 25% for you, 25% for Charity
Organizations and 5% to cover up any expenses we might incur during the
course of this transaction. I will procure 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 see this transaction through. I guarantee
you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law. Please respond urgently to:
victoryabc123@yahoo.com

Best regards,

Russell Noel

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam