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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)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "INFO WORLD" <infoworld200@msn.com>
Reply-To: smat_okon1@latinmail.com
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 08:28:39 +0000
Subject: NEXT OF KN


dear Sir/madam

I am Barrister Smat Okon Solicitor. I am the
Personal Attorney to Mr Thomas Anindya, a national of your
country, who used to work with shell development
company in Nigeria.On the 2nd of may 1999, my client,
his wife And their three children were involved in a
car accident along Sagbama Express Road. All occupants
of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since
then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to a
locate any of my clients 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. I have contacted you to assist in
repartrating the money that belong to my client before
they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where this huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an
account valued at about $30million dollars has issued
me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the
account confisicated within the next ten official
working days. since i have been unsuccesfull in
locating the the relatives for over 3 years now I seek
your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased since you are from the same country and bear
the same last name ,so that the proceeds of this
account valued at $30 million dollars can be paid to
you and then you and me can share the money. 55% to me
and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax
as your government may require, I have the ertificate
of deposit that can be used to back up any claim we
may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to
enable us see this dealt through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement thaat will protect you from any
breach of the law.Please get in touch with me by my
email to enable us discuss further.
I WILL OBTAIN AFFIDAVIT FROM COURT WHEN YOU RESPONS
TO ME.
Best regards,
Esq:Smat Okon

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam