419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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.

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.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348122623467
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.
- barristermarvellous10@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: baaaarrister marvellous <baaaarristermarvellous614@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: baaaarrister marvellous <barristermarvellous10@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2015 15:55:57 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: DEAR FRIEND, ARE YOU WISE ENOUGH TO MAKE USE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY
WITH ME?.

Â TEMPLE CHAMBERS $ ASSOCIATES(LEGAL PRACTITIONER)No: 85, Western Avenue,Surulere, Lagos.Email (barristermarvellous10@gmail.comÂ Phone: +2348122623467
Â Â Dear Friend, Â
Â It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a surprise; this isbecause we have not met before but I am inspired to sending you this emailfollowing the huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual benefitto both of us. However, I am BARRISTER MARVELLOUS DUKE, SAN , Attorney tothe late Engr.Ronald Johnson a national of Northern American, who used to workwith Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Nigeria On the 11th ofNovember, 2008. My client, his wife and their three children were involvedin a car accident along Sagamu/Lagos Express Road.
Â Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident,since then I have made several enquiries to several Embassies to locate anyof my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. Afterthese several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives overthe Internet to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence Icontacted you.
Â I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property leftbehind by my client; I can easily convince the bank with my legal practicethat you are the only surviving relation of my client. Otherwise the Estatehe left behind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bankwhere these huge deposits were lodged.
Â Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at aboutmillion U.S dollars (Fifteen million U.S. America dollars).Consequently,The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the accountconfiscated within the next ten official working days.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over severalyears now.
Â I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, sothat the proceeds of this account valued at million U.S dollars can be paidto your account and then you and I can share the money, 50% to me and 50%to you.
Â All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this dealthrough and also forward the following to me:
1, Your Full Name:.......2, Your House Address:..................3, Your Country:..........................4, Your Contact Telephone /Fax Number: ......5, Your Age and Gender:.......................6, Your Occupation: .................................
Â I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement thatwill protect you from any breach of the law.Please get in touch with me VIA this my confidential email(barristermarvellous10@gmail.comÂ )Â Yours Faithfully,
Â BARRISTER MARVELLOUS DUKE, SAN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam