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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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.
• 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.
  • m_kuffo02@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "moses kuffo" <m_kuffo01@terra.com.mx>
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 07:56:34 -0600
Subject: Hello===Next of Kin===Sta !


HIGH COURT OF GHANA
MOSES KUFFO CHAMBER'S
(Solicitors, Advocates and Notary Public)
NO:13 Nkuma Avenue, Johnson Plaza
Accra-Ghana.


Attn: Sta. ,

I am Barrister Moses Kuffo a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr. Daniel Sta , Who is a national of your country. Forgive me any embarrassment this mail might cause you, It’s all for our own good. On the 21st of April 2002, my client, his wife and their only son were involved in a car accident along Accra / Kumasi express road. 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 and our chamber of commerce, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where my client lodge these huge deposits.

Particularly, the bank where the deceased had an account valued at US$3.5 (three million five hundred thousand united states Dollars). Consequently, the bank 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 U.S$3.5 million can be paid to you for both of us to share the funds; 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup the claim.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing 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 get in touch with me through my alternative e-mail (m_kuffo02@yahoo.co.uk) to enable us discuss further.

Thanks for your kind co-operation.
Barr. Moses Kuffo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam