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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:
  • "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.
  • dumark@london.com

Fraud email example:

From: "john williams" <johnwilliams_5@msn.com>
Reply-To: john2005williams@aol.com
Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2005 04:42:29 +0000
Subject: Good day

Barrister John Williams
Email: john2005williams@aol.com
99 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 3XF
England.

I am Barrister John Williams,a solicitor at law, personal attorney to
ENG.H.M. GUI,a national of your country, an Oil Merchant and Chairman HAROON
OIL
MARKETING COMPANY LIMITED London England.

Here in after shall be referred to as my client.On the 26th of December
2004, my client, his wife and their only daughter were among victims of
Tsunami Disaster
in Thailand region of Asia, unfortunately they lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any
of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to track his last name
over the Internet and i contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in
repartrating
the fund valued at US$23,500,000.00(Twenty Three Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars only)
deposited by my late client before it gets confiscated by the Security
Finance Firm where this huge amount was 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 thirty one official
working
days.

Since I have all the necessary information and legal documents needed to
back you up for claim in my late client's security file jacket in my
custody,I hereby seek
your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the deceased since you
have same last name,so that the proceeds of this account can be paid into
your
account as the true beneficiary.
Therefore,on receipt of your positive response,we shall then discuss the
sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.

All I require from you is your willingness to assist me and cooperate so
that we can clear the payment to your account as scheduled.I guarantee that
this will be
executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach
of the law in the present and future.
Please get in touch with me through the above email(dumark@london.com) for
more details.

I look forward to your response at your earliest convenience.
Yours Truly,
Barrister John Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam