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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (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.
• 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.
  • ak_obi12@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Akachi Obi <ak_obi12@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: akachiobi@keromail.com
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 03:40:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention Please


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: ak_obi12@yahoo.com

Attention Please



I am Barr.Akachi Obi An Attorney-at-Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

I am the personal Attorney to Engr.Thomas Suchet, an American by Birth,

who used to work with Shell Development Company in Nigeria.Here in

after shall be referred t o as my Client. On the 21st of April 2003 my

client, his wife and their three Children were involved in a fatal car

Accident along Warri-Delta Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle

unfortunately lost their lives.


Since then I have made several inquires to your Embassy to locate any

of my clients extended Relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, 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 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 Security Company where the deceased had an account

valued at about (US$16.5m) Sixteen Million Five Hundred United States Dollars.

The Bank Has issued me a notice t o provide the Next of Kin or have the

Account confiscated within the next 21 working days. Since I have been

unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 8 months 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

(US$16.5M) Sixteen Million Five Hundred United States Dollars.


This Money can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money,

all Necessary legal documents will be in place that can be used to back

up any Claim we may make. All I require is your honest Cooperation to

enable us seeing this deal through.


Guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement

that will protect you from any breach of the law. once I have your consent

and trust then we can proceed immediately.


Yours Truly,

Barrister Akachi Obi

- Akachi Obi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam