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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:
  • "million us 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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lome togo" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Benjamin Lucas <barr_benjaminlucas1tg@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: barr_benjaminlucas04@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:02:37 -0800 (PST)
Subject: RESPOND NEEDED VERY URGENTLY


FROM BARRISTER BENJAMIN LUCAS.
BENJAMIN LUCAS LAW FIRM.
LOCATED AT NO 169
JANVIER BLV.
LOME TOGO-WEST AFRICA.

Dear Sir,

I am Barrister Benjamin Lucas an Attorney at law, and the Personal lawyer to ENG R.C. Brent,a foreigner ,he owns CROME ENGINEERING COMPANY TOGO S.A., here in Republic of Togo where I practice, Hereinafter shall be referred as my client.

On the 21st of April 2004,my client, his wife and their two children were involved in a car accident along Kara-Sokode expressway while arriving from a Holiday to Lome.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then, I have made several inquiries to their embassy to locate any of their extended relatives and after much findings discovered that my client was seeking refuge in Togo. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the funds valued at US$18.5m, (Eighteen point five million US Dollars) , left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge amount were deposited.

The said Security Finance Company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next twenty one official working days.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names,so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.

Therefore, I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. All I require of you is your honest co-operation,sincerity and confidentiality to enable us see this transaction through.

I guarantee you that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Without been told,you should know that this business can only be successful if you can keep it as a top secret to yourself alone.This is to avoid anybody jeopardizing our efforts.

I shall wait for a return mail from you so that I can proceed without delay.


Please urgently forward to me this below information to enable me submit to security company.
Your full name :......................................................
Your Occupation:...................................................
YourAge:...............................................................
Your Phone number:...............................................
Fax number:...........................................................
Country:..............................................................

Yours Sincerely,

BARR. BENJAMIN LUCAS(ESQ)



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam