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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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: "David Mark" <dmarksbench3@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: marksbench3@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:43:14 +0200
Subject: Good Day


I am Barrister David Mark solicitor and notary public, the personal attorney
to Mr. Douglas Coelho. On the 21st of April 2002, my client, his wife and
their two daughters were involved in a car accident along Accra / Kumasi
express road. Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the
accident, He died without any registered next of kin and as such the funds
now have an open beneficiary mandate.

I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money before they get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where my client deposited
the funds. Consequently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of
kin or have the money confiscated within a short time if I fail to present
the next of kin to the deceased to come and claim the funds.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased of the
funds valued at US$9M can be released 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 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 get in touch with me through my e-mail to enable us discuss further.

Thanks for your kind co-operation

Barrister David Mark

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam