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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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.
  • fredwill5050@uku.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "frederick williams" <fredwill60000_w@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 14:32:35 +0000
Subject: VERY URGENT

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Barrister Fredrick williams, an attorney to a deceased Immigrant,
Names: Mr. cho minja. A national of korea. who was a businessman/contractor
in my
country,with the Crude Oil sector. Here in after shall be referred to as my
client, On
the 6th of August 1997, he was among those passengers aboard who died in a
plane crash (Korean Air Flight 801). For your verification you can visit:
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list/. Since then I have
been
managing his properties and contracts, which he implemented in the oil
industries.

Now the money for the contract has been deposited. In the light of the
above, you are to
assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client
before they get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by his bank. Especially now that the
bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confiscate
within a short time.

The deceased has an account Valued $25.4 million dollars (USD). Since I
have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I
seek Your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased, so that
the
proceeds of this account ( $25.4 million dollars) can be paid to you, after
which you,
his account officer and me shall share the money on 70% to me and his
account officer,
while 25% for you and 5% for miscellaneous expenses that might arise. I
have all necessary informations that can be used to back up this Claim. All
I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal
through.

I guarantee that this transaction shall be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect both parties from any breach of the law.
Please, If you are interested and ready to assist in this project, I am
certain it will take only a few working days to get things done and i
will join you for further business. You can get back to me on my private
email as soon as possible: fredwill5050@uku.co.uk


Best regards,
Frederick Williams(ESQ).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam