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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • barr_williams01@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Williams" <peterwilliams98@msn.com>
Reply-To: barr_williams01@myway.com
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 08:29:25 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY

>From PETER WILLIAM CHAMBERS"S & CO
LEGAL PRACTITIONER PUBLIC NOTARY &
HIGH COURT REPRESENTATIVE
SUITE 543 OMEGA PLAZA, APAPA
LAGOS -NIGERIA.

GOOD DAY

I am Barrister Peter William (Esq), the Personal Attorney to a Foreign
Contractor,who worked with a Multi-National Oil Firm in Nigeria. On the 21st
of April 2001, my client,AN AMERICA National, late Engineer Alexander Vigil
an oil Merchant / Contractor with the Federal Government of Nigeria,died in
a ghastly motor accident with his wife and three kids along sagamu
expressway All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.


Since then I have made several inquiries to Several Embassies to locateany
of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After
these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives
overthe Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail. Then
Ihave to contact you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by
my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank
where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Bank where the
deceased had an account valued at about US$36.3 Million has issued me a
notice to provide the next of kin,relatives so that the fund left will be
transferred orhave the account confiscated within the next twenty official
working days.


Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased
so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$36.3Million can be paid to
you and then you and I can share this money. 60 to me and 35% to you,while
5% should be for expenses or tax as your Government may require.

All I require is your honest and 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. I will want you to send to me on your return email the following
information for the transfer in your favour

1, Your full Name.

2, Your contact Address

3, Your private phone/Fax


Iawait your kind response,Please reply to my private email
address-(barr_williams01@myway.com)

Best Regards,
Barrister Peter William .(Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam