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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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 friend" (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. )
  • "the consignment" (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.)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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.
  • martinsigwe99@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "barrgab7 barrgab7" <barrgab7@klikni.cz>
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 12:06:32 +0100
Subject: I wait to hear from you soon.


Dear Friend ,

I humbly crave your indulgence in sending you this mail,if the contents does
not meet with your personal and business ethics,I appologise in advance.I am
Barrister Martins Igwe , the Personal Attorney to late Mr Patrick Carl,who
was a contractor with emelite gold mining company here in Benin.And on the
3rd of Oct 2002, my client,and his family were perished in a ghastly
caraccident along Midombo Togo express way.But my client dopsited a
consignment box valued at (USD$15.7M),and upon the maturity this Courier
company started contacting him but no response.

Conseqently,the Courier company issued me a notice to provide the next of
kin or have the consignment confiscated after four years, as the law of this
country. Since then have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate
any of my clients extended relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.Since
i have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over two years now I
seek your consent to present you as the Relation to Mr Patrick Carl ,so that
the proceeds of this consignment valued at USD$15.7M can be delivered to you
and both of us will share the money.

I know that you might be wonder why i have decided to trust you with this
huge sum, but the truth is that i need you to get this money out and
considering the fact that your a foreigner which makes it a lot easier and
straight forward.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 deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law.Please get in touch with me
through.Email:(martinsigwe99@yahoo.it)

KINDLY FORWARD YOUR INFORMATION AS STATED BELLOW.

1) your full name.
2) your telephone and fax numbers
3) your Home and office address.
4) your Age and occupation

With the above information we can proceed futher.

Best Regards,

Barrister Martins Igwe (Esq)
Senior Advocate of Benin (SAB)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam