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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348039177522 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • barrjohn44@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Victor Johnson" <barr_victorjohnson@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 05:45:01 +0000
Subject: call me TEL: +234-8039177522

From The Desk of: victor johnson
Lagos-Nigeria
call me TEL: +234-8039177522
email:barrjohn44@yahoo.com

Dear Friend

Greetings. I am BARISTER VICTOR JOHNSON a solicitor at law. I am
thepersonal attorney to Mr.Robert chapman a national of your country,
who used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Nigeria.

Here in after shall be referred to as my client.
my client,his wife and their three children were involved a Plane
Crash,please view these websites below
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm

All the family of my client lost thier lives.
Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any
of my clients extended relatives but all to no avail. After these
several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you to assist in
repatriating the money and propertyleft behind by my client before they
get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge
deposits were lodged.

Particularly,the finance companywhere the deceased had an account
valued at about USD$7.5 million dollars has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next
few weeks.

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,so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD$7.5 million
dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money in
the following ration:55% to me and 40% to you, and also 5% for any expenses
that may be incure during the process of this transaction, telephone
bills.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any
claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation 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 if you are interested to work with me with one mind, get in
touch with me by my email and send to me your full name and residential
address,telephone and fax numbers,age and occupation to enable us
discuss further on this transaction, and also your banking details and
address
where this fund will be released into.

I hope to hear further response from you regards this transaction.
God bless you.

Best regards,
victor johnson
call me TEL: +234-8039177522

NB:I HAVE GIVEN THESAME INFORMATIONS TO MY COLLEAGUES IN MY CHAMBERS AND
OUTSIDE THE CHAMERS TO HELP ME GET SOMEONE TO HELP ME,BUT THEY ARE USING IT
TO DEFRAUD PEOPLE.BE CAREFULL WHO CONTACT YOU AND MAKE SURE YOU GET BACK TO
ME AND SEND ALL INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU BY THESE IMPOSTORS



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam