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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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: "Steve Williams" <barr_emekawilliams20@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barr_stevewilliams123@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 12:24:33 +0000
Subject: Dear Britt

FROM THE DESK OF:
Steve Williams ASSOCIATE AND CO
SOLICITOR IN LAW AND LEGAL PRATITIONAL;
LOVERIDGE ROAD LONDON, MANCHESTER CITY.

Dear Britt,

I am Barrister Steve Williams a solicit in law. I am the personal attorney
to Mr. Martins Britt, a national of your country, who used to work with an
Eroupean Company ( MELTON ORGANISATION ) here in LONDON. On the 21st of
December 2004, my client, his wife and their son were involved in a car
accident all of them in the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since
then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these
several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to search over the Internet i.e
(THE SAME LAST NAME) to locate any of his relatives hence i contacted you.

I am contacting you to assist me in repatriating the money and property
left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where his huge funds where deposited here in
london with A LONDON BANK.The deceased (MY CLIENT) had an account valued at
4.5 Million Pounds before this untimely motor accident. So in accordance of
my claim of my clients next of kin, the bank now mandated me to provide the
next of kin or have the account confiscated soon.

Since all my search have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives
for over 6months now, I now seek your consent to present you as the next of
kin of the deceased (MY CLIENT) since you have the same last name so that
the proceeds of this account Valued at 4.5 Million Pounds can be paid to you
and then you and I can share the money.

The ratio would be 60% for me and 40% to you as the account owner, I
have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we
may make. All I require is your honest cooperation, your private telephone
for easy communication and discussion and a fax number if you have one .

I asure you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please for security reasons, maintain the utmost secrecy of this
transaction.

Best Regards,

Barrister Steve Williams



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam