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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "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.
• 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.
  • brownklu@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "brown klu" <brownklu1@fastwebmail.it>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 13:55:12 -0700
Subject: VERY URGENT PLEASE .


*ATTN: ,

I am Barrister Brown Klu, a solicitor at law,personal attorney to Mr.M., a
national Of your country, who used to work with Shell Development Company in
Accra Ghana. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. *
**
*On the 21st of April 2005, my client, his wife and their only daughter were
involved in a car accident along Tema express Road. All occupants of the
vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. *
**
*Since then i have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any
of my clients extendedrelatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name
over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist in repartriating the fund valued at US$38.5
million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the Eco Bank accra Ghana where this huge amount was
deposited.*
**
*The said Eco Bank accra Ghana has for sometime now issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin of my client or his account shall be declared
dormant or possibly confiscated.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2years
now, I seek the consent to present you 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, on receipt of your positive response,we shall then discuss the
sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.*
* *
*I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up
for
claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see
this transaction through.*


*My conected email address:- (brownklu@hotmail.com**)

Best Regards.
Barrister Brown Klu.*
**

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam