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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 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. )
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "abuja" (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.
  • barr_martinseze@consultant.com
  • barr_martinseze@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Martins Shamu Usman" <shedeen_usman25@unimail.mn>
Reply-To: barr_martinseze@lawyer.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 08:15:29 -0700
Subject: BE THE NEXT OF KIN


*Martins Usman & Co.Chambers
Solicitors & Advocates.
06 BP 1409 dpakpa godomey,
GARKI AREA 3, ABUJA-NIGERIA
Email: **barr_martinseze@consultant.com* <barr_martinseze@consultant.com>
*Email: **barr_martinseze@lawyer.com* <barr_martinseze@lawyer.com> *


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 Usman , the Personal Attorney to late Mr Patrick Carl,who
was a contractor with Emelite Gold Mining Dompany here in Nigeria.And on the
3rd of Oct 2006, my client,and his family were perished in a ghastly
caraccident along Midombo Togo express way.But my client made a fixed dopsit
valued at (USD$10.7M),and upon the maturity this bank started contacting him
but no response.

Conseqently,the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have
the account confiscated after four years, as the law of this land Says.
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 next of kin of the deceased ,so that the
proceeds of this account valued at USD$10.7M can be paid 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 usedto
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

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 Usman (Esq)
Senior Advocate.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam