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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

Fraud email example:

From: Andrew Marcus <andrewmarcus16@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 16:28:01 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL

From the desk of:
Barrister Andrew Marcus Esq
Principal Partner Harry & associates(legal practionner/advocates)
Lome Togo.

Attn: Griffith,

Dear as it may be of your keen interest. I am Barrister Andrew Marcus,a
solicitor at law, personal attorney to Mr.P.B Griffith, a national Of your
country and a contractor with Togo Regional Water Sccheme in Lome Togo.
Here in after shall be referred to as my client.
On the 21st of April 2000, my client,his wife and their only daughter were
involved in a car accident along Nouvissi express Road. All occupants of
the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several
enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my
clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these
several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to track his last name over the
Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$12.568
million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge amount were deposited. The said
bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of
kin or have his account confisicated if no response within their next Board
Meeting.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2years
now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased
since you have the same names, so that the proceeds of this account can be
paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your
positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities
for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed
to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation
to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be
executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach
of the law.

Best Regards.
Barrister Andrew Marcus Esq
Marcus Chambers Lome Togo.
+228 97243609

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