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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "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. )
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (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.
  • ben_chambers001@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3aben_chambers001@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr Ben Obi" <benchambers01@g.pl>
Reply-To: ben_chambers001@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:10:23 +0100
Subject: LEGAL APPOINTMENT FOR A NEXT OF KIN


FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER BEN OBI
OBI & CO (LEGAL PRACTITIONERS) ESQ.
LLB, LLM, BL, SAN
SENIOR ADVOCATE, INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PRACTITIONER
OBI`S CHAMBERS & FINANCIAL ATTORNEY
#16 AKINTOLA WILLIAM STR.IKEJA LAGOS-NIGERIA
E-MAIL :ben_chambers001@hotmail.com


ATTN: Sir/Madam

I KNOW THAT THIS MAIL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE, PLEASE ACCEPT THE
CONTENT IN GOOD FAITH. I DO NOT INTEND TO CAUSE ANY GRIEF TO YOU AND OUR
FAMILY. THE REASON FOR SENDING THIS MAIL IS VERY FUNDAMENTAL TO THE DOCTRINE
OF HUMAN PRIVILEGES AND RIGHT.



I AM A LAWYER. I AM THE PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO LATE MR.KENNETH BILL, A
NATIONAL OF YOUR COUNTRY, WHO USED TO WORK AS A CONTRACTOR WITH CRYSTAL
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INC.,HEREIN AFTER SHALL BE REFERRED TO AS MY CLIENT.



ON THE 21ST OF APRIL 2002, MY CLIENT, HIS WIFE AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN
WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ALONG SAGAMU EXPRESS ROAD. ALL OCCUPANTS OF
THE VEHICLE UNFORTUNATELY LOST THEIR LIVES. SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE SEVERAL
ENQUIRIES TO YOUR EMBASSY TO LOCATE ANY OF MY CLIENTS EXTENDED RELATIVES AND
THIS HAS ALSO PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER THESE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS
TO LOCATE ANY MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY, HENCE I CONTACTED YOU.


I AM CONTACTING YOU TO ASSIST IN REPATRIATING THE MONEY AND PROPERTY LEFT
BEHIND BY MY CLIENT BEFORE THEY GET CONFISCATED OR DECLARED UNSERVICEABLE BY
THE FINANCIAL FIRM WHERE THIS HUGE DEPOSIT WERE LODGED. PARTICULARLY, THE
FINANCIAL FIRM WHERE THE DECEASED DEPOSITED THE VALUED ABOVE (TEN MILLION
UNITED STATE DOLLARS) HAS ISSUED ME A NOTICE TO PROVIDE THE NEXT OF KIN OR
HAVE THE ACCOUNT CONFISCATED AND THE FUNDS RETURNED TO THE GOVERNMENT.



SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE RELATIVES FOR OVER TWO YEARS
NOW I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OF SO THAT THE
PROCEEDS OF THIS ACCOUNT VALUED ABOVE (TEN MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) CAN
BE PAID TO YOU AND THEN YOU AND I CAN SHARE THE MONEY, 60% TO ME AND 40% TO
YOU. I HAVE ALL THE 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 BY MY E-MAIL ADDRESS AND SEND TO ME YOUR
TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO ENABLE US DISCUSS FURTHER ABOUT THIS
TRANSACTION.


I EXPECT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE INDICATING YOUR FULL INTEREST IN THIS GREAT
BUSINESS TO OUR BOTH MUTUAL TRUST.

YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER WILL BE NEEDED FOR OUR EASY COMMUNICATION.

PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA
MYPRIVATEE-MAILADDRESS:ben_chambers001@hotmail.com<MYPRIVATEE-MAILADDRESS%3Aben_chambers001@hotmail.com>


BEST REGARDS,
BARRISTER BEN OBI,
LLB, LLM, BL,SAN
ATTORNEY AT LAW.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam