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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "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.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: koku kwesi <mrkkwesi30@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrkkwesi4@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2007 03:39:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Good Day,


Barrister Koku Kwesi
72 Alhaji Sule Crescent,
Mamprobi,Accra-Ghana
Telephone:00233 244 819070

Dear Friend
I am Barrister Koku Kwesi, I am personal Attorney to late Mr.Aamil Shahid,a national of your country, who used to work with Ashanti Gold Development Company in Ghana, On the 21st of April 2003, my client, his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Kumasi express road, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives, since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives 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 left behind by my client before they get confiscated by the security company where my client lodge these huge deposits valued $13.2m as "FAMILY TREASURE"for safety.

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 so that the amount of US$13.2million can be paid to you and then you and me can share the Money,70% to me and 30% 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 deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please reach me on this my private phone no: 00233 244 819070 to enable us discuss further.And your private telephone number is also needed for easier communication.

Faithfully Yours,
Barrister Koku Kwesi


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam