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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, 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "David Gogor" <hopefully07@msn.com>
Reply-To: david_gogor2000@voila.fr
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 11:52:26 +0000
Subject: please respond





Dear Sir/Madam,

I am barrister David Gogor, 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 2003, 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:
david_gogor@voila.fr

Best regards,

Dr.David Gogor.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam