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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:
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "kwame mensh" <barristerkwame@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 20:16:59 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLAY

FROM--BARRISTER KWAME APONG(SAN)
TEL--+233244075157
KWAME CHAMMBERS

Dear sir
I am Barrister KWAME APONG, a personal attorney to Mr. Michael Brinks, who
used to work with Inter Gold mining and Development Company in Accra, Ghana,
Herein after shall be referred to as my client.
On the 21st of August 2004, my client, his wife and their child were
involved in a car accident along aflawo/accra express road. All occupants of
the
vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
clients extended relatives but this has 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 repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the Security Company where this huge deposits were lodged,
particularly the Trust Security & Finance Company, where the deceased had
deposited valued at about 8.5 million dollars has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated after six months if
not claimed and We have just few weeks ultimatum.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 5 months
now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since
you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this amount valued at
8.5million dollars can be paid to you
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup any claim we
may make. All I require is your honest co-operation 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
the above phone number +233-244075157
to enable us discuss further.
I look forward to your urgent response.
Best Regards,
Barr. KWAME APONG

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam