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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:
  • "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "barrister" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "mictomy04" <mictomy04@terra.com.mx>
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 04:47:51 -0600
Subject: Good Day,


Good Day,
I am Barrister Micheal Utomy a solicitor at law. And a personal attorney to MR.NORBERT WELL, a native of your country, who until his death was a staff of shell petroleum Development Company in Nigeria Here in after shall be referred to a my client.
On the 21st of April 2003 my client, his wife and two of his children were involved in a car crash along Lagos/Ibadan expressway. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately died. Since then I have made several inquires to your Country's High commission in Nigeria to
locate any of my client's extended relatives and all the effort proved unsuccessful.

After several unsuccessful, attempts to contact any of my client's relatives,I decided to contact you. I have contacted you to assist in reptriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the security firm where these funds were deposited. The amount involve is $15M(Fifteen Million United States
Dollars)
However, the security firm has issued me a notice, to provide my client's next of Kin,but unfornataly , I have been unable to locate any of my client's relatives for almost two years now, I therefore seek your sincere consent to present you as the NEXT OF KIN of MR NORBERT WELL, so that the proceeds of this deposite valued $15M(Fifteen Million United States dollars) would be
willed to you and after that we shall share the funds between us.We shall share this fund as follows 5o% for me 40 for you while the remaning 10% shall be for any expences we might incure during the process of trying to retrive this fund from the security firm. I have all necessary legal documents to backup any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. Please indicate your interest in this deal by sending your phone number, Fax
and email for easier communication. I want to assure you, that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me through
My emails as soon as possible to enable us discuss further.
Best regards,
Barr Micheal Utomy.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam