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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.)
  • "barr." (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.
  • john.uche7@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Uche" <john.uche7@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 10:33:56 +0100
Subject: I will appreciate your urgent response


Dear Sir/Madam,





Kindly accept my apology for sending unsolicited mail to you. I believe you
are a highly respected personality, considering the fact that I sourced your
profile from a human resource profile database on your country. Though, I do
not know to what extent you are familiar with events.



Well, I am Barrister John Uche , a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to
Mr. Thomas who used to work with Agip Oil Company in Nigeria. On the 21st of
April 2006, his wife and their three children were involved in a car
accident along Abuja Express Road. Unfortunately, they all lost their lives
in the event of the accident. Since then I have made several enquiries to
your Embassy to locate any of my client's relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful.



After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives
over the Internet to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence,
I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my
client in a Bank. Particularly, the Finance House where the deceased
deposited the US$15Million (Fifteen Million United States Dollars only)
knows me very well and has ask me to present some one to claim the fund left
my late client as they all know I am his attorney.



Consequently, this Bank issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin to
claim the US$15 Million (Fifteen Million United States Dollars only) in
their custody within the next ten official working days. Since I have been
unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased to claim the fund
as the Next of Kin to him so that the Bank will transfer the fund to your
account.



Upon receipt of the fund, I will come over to your country to meet wit you
for the disbursement of the fund and then you and I will share the money
with the Bank. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing
this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I will like
you to send me the information below :

john.uche7@yahoo.com



1. Name:

2. Address:

3. Marital Status:

4. Occupation:

5. Age:

6. Sex:

7. Nationality:

8. Country

9. Telephone Number:



I hope to hear from you in no distant time. (john.uche7@yahoo.com)



Best regards.

Barr.John Uche,Esq

Principal Attorney

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam