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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• 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 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)
  • "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.
  • fark100baba@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Barrister=20William=20Amadi?= <amadi200william@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: fark200baba@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:45:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Yours Faithfully


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:amadi200william@yahoo.com.co



- It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a suprise. this is because we have not met before,However,I am (Amadi William)personal Attorney to the late Engr.Ali Akbar a Foreigner,and coutractor with Shell Petroleum Company in Nigeria.On the 21st of April 2003,my client,his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Lagos Express Road. Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the accident, Since then I have made inquiries to Embassies to locate any extended relatives of my clients, this has proved unsuccessful.And the bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated.since I have been unsuccessfull in locating the relatives for several years now,I know decided to contact you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my client,I can easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you are a relation to my client.Otherwise the money he left behind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits was lodged. valued at about $24.5million U.S dollars(Twenty four Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S.America Dollars).I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $24.5million U.S dollars can be paid to your account and then you and me can share the money.70% for me and 25% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as government may require.I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.I look forward to hear from you urgently so that we can proceed accordingly.forward your response back to my pravite email: fark100baba@hotmail.com,If you Agree with this All i need from you is Your fullname,Age,Home address,Occupation,Mobile phone number,Phone number,fax number,And any necessary Identification I wait for your urgent response, Thanks and God Bless.Yours Faithfully Barrister Amadi William

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam