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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Company names mentioned in 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:

• 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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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.
• 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.
  • erickagu@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Erick Agu <erickagu16@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <erickagu2@yahoo.de>
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:05:10 -0700
Subject: From the desk of Erick Agu



From the desk of Erick AguChambers and co.Solicitors and advocatesMaka plaza suite 3,5th floor pacificTower, Maryland Lagos State Nigeria.Alternative email address:erickagu@gmail.com
Dear Sir/Madam,
I know that you will be surprise to read from somebody you have notknown or seen before, But behold" I entreat you to take the will for the deed.I believed it is indeed one of the miraculous work of God that I got your contact coincidentally when I was surfing internet for therelatives of my late client.
I am Barrister Erick Agu Esq, (Notary Advocate & Legal Practitioners)and I am the personal attorney to late client that just past away someyears back, a Foreigner from your country, a licensed Crude OilExporterwith African largest crude oil producing Firm, Nigeria NationalPetroleum Corporation (N.N.P.C.)
Well, On The 3rd of May 2002, My Client, his Wife and their 2 Childrenwere involved in an Aeroplane Crash (while on a picnic-trip.)involving The BAC 111-500 belonging to EAS AIRLINES. Which the Pilot, 7Crew Members and 65 Passengers on board unfortunately lost theirlives.
To throw lights on this and more prove of my story, Please click theundermentioned BBC ARCHIVE NEWS and CNN.com NEWS ARCHIVE >
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1968616.stmhttp://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/africa/05/05/nigeria.crash
Since then I have made several enquiries to his embassy to see if I canlocate any of my clients extended relatives, this has all the whileproved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, Idecided to trace his relatives (i.e. same surname) over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of to no avail.
Therefore, I am contacting you to assist in accommodating a mega amountof money left behind by my late client before it is confiscated ordeclared dormant by the Bank where this huge amount was deposit .TheBank where the deceased had an account valued at Twenty million UnitedStates dollars (US$20, 000 000.00) has issued me a notice to providethe next of kin to the deceased or have the account confiscated within the next (30) official working days.Since I have been unsuccessful inlocating the relatives for over 2years now, I am seeking for yourconsent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased since you are still a foreigner, and most fortunately your last name" is the same with my late client it will be easier and convincing to present you as the next of kin to my late client. So that the proceeds of this account valued at US$20million USD can be paid to you.
Then thereafter the transfer, It will be shared as following: First andforemost, 10% of the total fund will be donated to Church andMotherless babies home in your country, Then you and I will share theremaining money, 50% for me and 30% for you, while the remaining 10%will be used to defray all our expenses incurred during the course ofthis transaction such like Telephone bills,Vats and Taxes as the bank or your government may require. I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this claim such like e.g the Certificate of Deposit, Death certificate of my client,e.t.c. which i will furnish to you upon your acceptance to do this deal with me. All I require is your honesty,mutual nderstanding and co-operation to enable us actualize this lucrative deal which is a golden opportunity for us to make wealth for our individual families.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangementthat will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touchwith me by my email as indicated above so that we can commence thedocumentations quickly.
Finally I need your Mobile Cell,Telephone & Fax numbers for easycommunication in return.
Awaiting your urgent response.
Best Regards,
Barrister. Erick Agu Esq.ALTERNATIVE EMAIL ADDRESS: erickagu@gmail.com
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam