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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (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 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.
  • +2348060075990 (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.
  • barrister_peter_lee@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "peter lee" <barr_peter01@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 05:15:46 +0000
Subject: DEAR MARTHY

From the desk of :-
BARRISTER PETER LEE(esq)
(PROVIDENCE CHAMBERS)
FIFTH FLOOR
NEW-ARK HOUSE
LAGOS NIGERIA.
TEL:234-8060075990

Dear Marthy,

I am Barrister Peter Lee, a solicitor at law. I
am the personal attorney to Richard.W. Marthy, a
national of your country, who used to work with
Ashland Oil Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria.
Some years ago, my client, his wife and their
4 children were involved in the recent TSUNAMI
FLOOD DISASTER while on vacation . All members of the
family unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I
have made several enquiries to your embassy here to
locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has
also proved unsuccessful.
I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to
locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist in recovering the fund
valued at US$21.5 million left behind by my client
before it gets confisicated or declared unserviceable
by the Bank where this huge amount were deposited.
The said Bank has issued me a notice recently to
provide the next of kin or have the account
confisicated within the next twenty one official
working days.Since I have been unsuccesfull in
locating the relatives, hence I seek your consent to
present you as the next of kin to the deceased since
you have the same names resemblance, so that the
proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we
shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities
for transfer.I have all necessary information and
legal documents needed to back you up for claim.
All I require from you is your honest cooperation to
enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee
that this will be executed under legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
the law.
Please send your response to barrister_peter_lee@myway.com
Best regards,
Barr. Peter Lee.

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam