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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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:
  • "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. )
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million us 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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • 902@yahoo.co.uk
  • felixwabudike902@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: FELIX NWABUDIKE <felixwabudike902@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 04:24:36 +0200
Subject: DEAR FRIEND YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED.



Dear:Sir/Madam,YOU ARE ADVICE TO REACH ON THIS EMAIL ADDRESS (felixwabudike=
902@yahoo.co.uk) I am Barrister Felix Nwabudike (Esq),a Solicitor at law an=
d the personal attorney to late Engr. Steve ,a National of your country, wh=
o used to be a private contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Comp=
any in Nigeria, herein after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st=
of April 2001, he and his newly married wife were involved in an auto cras=
h, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since then, =
I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relative=
s, this has also proven unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful atte=
mpts, I decided to contact you with this business partnership proposal.I co=
ntacted you to assist in repatriating a huge amount of money left behind by=
my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Ban=
k where these huge deposit was lodged.The deceased had a deposit valued pre=
sently at$15million US Dollars with a bank here and the Bank has issued me =
a notice as his lawyer to provide his next of kin or Beneficiary by Will ot=
herwise have the account confiscated within the next thirty official workin=
g days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over s=
even years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / Wil=
l Beneficiary to the deceased since you are bearing the same last name,so t=
hat the proceeds of this account valued at $15Million US dollars can be pai=
d to you. This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me =
and 40% to you.I have the means to provide all necessary legal documents th=
at can be used to back up any claim we may make All I require is your hones=
t Co-operation,Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this transaction =
through.I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arran=
gement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please get in touch=
with me urgently by E-mail:(felixwabudike902@yahoo.co.uk) and provide me t=
he following information to enable us go for the claim of the fund from the=
Depositing Bank in Lagos.Send to me the following information to let me fi=
le a letter of claim to the bank with the information as the beneficairy in=
formation of were they should effect the payment of the fund:GENDER________=
___________________________________DATE OF BIRTH:__________________________=
__________COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:_____________________________HOME ADDRESS __=
___________________________________OFFICE ADDRESS:_________________________=
__________TELEPHONE NUMBER:__________FAX NUMBER________OCCUPATION:_________=
_______________________________YOUR PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS:_________________=
___Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.Best reg=
ards,Barrister Felix Nwabudike (Esq)=20
_________________________________________________________________
Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Space=
s. It's easy!
http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=3Dcreate&wx_url=3D/friends.=
aspx&mkt=3Den-us

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam