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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, 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.)
  • "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: "divine favour" <divinefavour1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: royrobito@yahoo.ca
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 04:16:19 +0000
Subject: CAN YOU BE OF HELP ?

FROM: BARR. CAESAR JAMES (ESQ)
JAMES & ASSOSCIATES,
4 Albert Embankments, London
SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.

Attn My Good Friend ,

I am Barrister Caesar James (Esq). I have a client who bears the same
surname with you Mr.Mark, and a national of your Country who used to
work with Mekon Associates Company in London. On the 2nd of August
2003, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a
car accident along Manchester 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 client's extended relatives, 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 to
no avail, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist me in
repatriating the money left behind by my client before they got
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance House where these
huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Finance House where the
deceased had an account valued at about US$20M has issued me a notice
to provide the next-of-kin or have the account confiscated within the
next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over nine
(9) months now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin
to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$20M
can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money, 50% to me
and 50% to you.

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 transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
the law.

Yours Sincerely,

BARR. CAESAR JAMES (ESQ).

Attorney-At-Law.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam