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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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: "Ambi N." <namisguud@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 12:57:09 +0800
Subject: Looking Forward To Hearing from You

Dear Sir/Madam,

First and foremost I would like to apologize for infringing on your privacy by sending you an unsolicited email, I decided to contact you via an email to get us acquainted since it is a safer way of private communication. If you must know, I came about your contact information through a chamber of commerce and industry directory on the Internet while trying to locate any link to my deceased client.

I am Ambi Najib. Esq., an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name Mr. Edwards J. Donald, who were in after shall be referred to as my client, died as a result of heart related illness in November 1999.
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the finance company where this deposit valued at US$16.400, 000.00 Dollars is lodged. This finance company has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated and the fund remitted to the Federal Reserve. My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client; so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share
the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.

Best regards,
Barrister Ambi N. Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam