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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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.)
• 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.
  • mrlukewilson2007@walla.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATIONS <mrluke.wilson05@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrlukewilson2007@walla.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 08:45:07 -0400
Subject: NEXT OF KIN NEEDED URGENTLY



DEAR SIR/MADAM
COMPLIMENT OF THE DAY BEFORE I START, I MUST FIRST APOLOGIZE FOR THIS UNSOLICITED MAIL TO YOU.
IAM AWARE THAT THIS IS CERTAINLY AN UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH TO STARTING A RELATIONSHIP,BUT AS TIME GOES ON YOU WILL REALIZE THE NEED FOR MY ACTION.
MY NAME IS MR LUKE WILSON , A SOLICITOR AND THE PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO MR.JOHN RYERSON,A NATIONAL OF YOUR COUNTRY,WHO WORKED WITH AN OIL COMPANY IN NIGERIA,HERE-IN-AFTER REFERRED TO AS MY CLIENT.
ON THE 21ST OF APRIL 2001, MY CLIENT, HIS WIFE AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN A GHASTLY MOTOR ACCIDENT ALONG SAGAMU EXPRESS ROAD.
MY CLIENT AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY UNFORTUNATELY LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE ACCIDENT.
SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ENQUIRIES TO YOUR EMBASSY TO LOCATE ANY OF MY CLIENT'S EXTENDED RELATIVES, WHICH HAS PROVED ABORTIVE AFTER THESE SEVERAL UNSUCESSFUL ATTEMPTS. MY MAIN REASON FOR CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST ME IN REPATRIATING THE MONEY AND PROPERTY LEFT BEHIND BY MY CLIENT BEFORE THEY ARE CONFISCATED OR DECLARED UNSERVICEABLE BY THE BANK WHERE THEY ARE DEPOSITED/LODGED. PARTICULARLY, THE UNION BANK PLC.
WHERE THE DECEASED HAS A FIXED SUM OF $20,000.000.00 THE SAID BANK HAS ISSUED ME A FINAL NOTICE TO PROVIDE THE NEXT OF KIN OF MY CLIENT OR THEY WILL BE LEFT WITH NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO CONFISCATE HIS FUNDS, A COPY OF THE SAID NOTICE I WILL FAX TO ON GETTING YOUR REPLY.
SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING MY CLIENT'S RELATIVES FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS NOW I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OF MY CLIENT SO THAT THE SAID FUNDS AS STATED ABOVE I.E, THE SUM OF TWENTY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS CAN BE PAID TO YOU INSTEAD OF LEAVING FOR UNION BANK PLC.
WE CAN TAKE PART OF IT AND LEAVE THE REST TO CHARITY. I HAVE ALL NECESSARY LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE USED TO BACK UP ANY CLAIM WE MAY MAKE ALL I REQUIRE IS YOUR HONEST COOPERATION TO ENABLE US SEE THIS ARRANGEMENT THROUGH.
I GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER A LEGITIMATE ARRANGEMENT THAT WILL PROTECT YOU FROM ANY BREACH OF THE LAW. PLEASE REPLY ME VIA THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS{mrlukewilson2007@walla.com},FINALLY KINDLY GIVE ME YOUR CONFIDENTAIL PHONE/FAX NUMBERS SO THAT I CAN FAX TO YOU ALL THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE BANK AND ME.
BEST REGARDS, BARRISTER LUKE WILSON
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam