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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:
  • "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.
  • barr_chris_wank@myway.com
  • barr_chris_wank@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Chris Wank" <chriswank@msn.com>
Reply-To: tijani_kole10000@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 17:00:55 +0000
Subject: NICE TO MEET YOU

CHRIS WANK.&CO.CHAMBERS
(ATTORNEYS&COUNSELORS AT LAW)
FEDERAL HIGH COURT BENIN
WHITE-HOUSE BUILDING,
25 DEGBAGO CRESCENT,
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
Email:barr_chris_wank@myway.com

Attn:My Dear,

Compliments,I Barrister Chris have decided to bestow this trust on you,
which I pray you will not ignore or betray.I appologize in advance for any
inconviniences this may cause you.

I am Barrister Chris Wank the Personal Attorney to late Mr George K Marshal
, who was a contractor here in Benin Rep.Who, on December 2003, with his
entire family were perished in Air -Crash on board from
Cotonou.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm As a
matter offact, My
client made a fixed deposit Amount, valued at (USD$15.9M) with Comercial
Bank
here in Benin Rep, and upon the duration time of their agreement,his bank
started contacting him but no response.

Conseqently, The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to the
deceased as his personal attorney,or have his account confiscated after four
years, as it is in the law of this country. Since then, I have made several
contacts to His Countrys Embassy in order to locate any of my clients
extended relatives,which had also been unsuccessful. Since I have been
unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over two years now, I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since none of his
relatives were no way to be found so that the proceeds of this account
valued at $15.9m could be transffered into your account,

thereafter,we will both share it in percentage according to our
contributions to boost the success ofthis great transaction. I have all the
necessary legal documents that can be used to back up all the claims we will
make.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us make this great
benefiting transaction successfully.

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 as
fast as possible through mail:(barr_chris_wank@myway.com )to enable us
discuss further the progress of this business.

Best Regards,

Barrister Chris Wank

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam