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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:
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr. Thomas Mersey Woodman" <thomas.woodman@lonelypost.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: t.merseywoodman@merseymail.com
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 04:55:04 +0100
Subject: Hello, do get back to me - its important !!

Woodman Chambers
136 Lonsdale Road
Barnes
London SW13

Attention:

My name is Thomas Mersey Woodman. I am a barrister, solicitor and notary public, the personal attorney to Mr. Michael Bailey of Transfield Worley (New Zealand) Ltd. Who is a national of country. On the 21st of April 2002, my client, his wife and their only son were involved in a fatal autocrash in Here in Manchester City - United Kingdom. Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives and 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 of no avail, hence I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance house here where my client lodge these huge deposits. Particularly, the Finance house where the deceased had a deposit valued at about US$9million U.S dollars. Consequently, the Finance house issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within a short time.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over some years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you share the same surname so that the proceeds of the account valued at US$9million can be paid to you for both of us to share the funds; I have all legal documents that can be used to backup the claim.

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, do get back to me on time to enable us discuss the details.

Thanks for your kind co-operation

Regards,

Barr. Thomas Mersey Woodman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam