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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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: alexbenjamin@supereva.it
Reply-To: alex_benjamin02@myway.com
Date: 27 Jul 2006 10:29:01 -0000
Subject: GOOD DAY.


Dear Friend,





I am Barrister ALEX BENJAMIN, The personal attorney to Mr.Peter ....., National of your country who works with Shell Development Company in Nigeria and he is known and referred to as my Client. On the 24th of August 2004, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along shagamu express road.Unfortunately all the entire family lost their lives in the tragedy. Since then, I have made several enquires to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but all my efforts proved unsuccessful.



After these unsuccessful attempts failed, I decided to track his last name,any member of his family or his nationale hence I contacted you. Now my contacts to you is to assist me in REPATRIATING THE MONEY IN HIS BANK ACCOUNT HERE before the accident and his properties he left behind before every thing will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where he deposit this money valued $15,000,000,000.(FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) More importantly, the bank where the deceased client deposited these huge sums of money has served me a write of notice to provide the NEXT OF KIN of my client or the account will be confiscated.



Since I have tried and failed on sever occasions in locating his relatives I am now seeking for your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased, so that the money in his account will be paid to you while I will come over to your country for the sharing.



I will take 40% while you will take 50% and 10% for any expensses that may come our way in this transaction. I have all the necessary legal documents that can be use to back up any claim we may want. All I require is your honest co-operation 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.



Finally, if this business interests you, please get in touch with me immediately. With your contact phone and fax numbers, to enable me call you immediately.More information awaits your urgent reply. God bless you.



Regards,

Barrister Alex Benjamin.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam