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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "million united states dollars" (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.)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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: "rotimi adams" <rotimiadams001@msn.com>
Reply-To: rotimi_adams4@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:37:38 +0000
Subject: Barrister,Rotimi Adams

Rotimi Adams Chambers,
18 Wharfs Road,Apapa,
Lagos-Nigeria

Dear Sir,
 
I am Barrister Rotimi Adams, a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney  to "Mr. Mark Sullivan" a national of your country, who used to work  with Multi-National Oil Development Company in Nigeria. On the 21st of April 2002, my  client,his wife and their three children were involved in a  car accident along  Abuja Express Road. fortunately they all lost their  lives in the event of  the accident.
 
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   relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but of no  avail, hence,I contacted you to assist in expartrating the money left behind  by my  client in a Security Company here in Nigeria. Particularly, the  Security   Company where the deceased deposited the $15Million (Fifteen  Million United  States Dollars Only).
 
Consequently, the Security Company issued me a notice to provide the Next-of-Kin to claim $15Million (Fifteen Million United States Dollars  Only) in   their custody within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek  your consent to present you as the next-of-kin of the deceased to  claim the fund since you are from the same country so that the fund   will be transfer to your account by the security company.
 
Upon receipt of the fund, I will come over to your country to meet  with you for the disbursment of the fund, and then you and me can share    the money 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% will be used on expenses  incurred.I have all the necessary legal ocuments that can back up any claim we  may make with the Security Company.
 
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal  through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate  arrangement   that will protect you from any breach of the law.
 
Please get in touch with me by my secured and confidential e-mail  
address at
 
Inaddition get me the be low informations
 
(1) YOUR FAX AND TELEPHONE NUMBERAND YOUR ADDRESS

All this will enable me process your claims before with the security company.
Best regards
 
Barrister,Rotimi Adams

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam