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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.
  • barrfrankobi_7@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Frank Obi" <barristerfrankobi@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 12:57:22 +0000
Subject: I Need Your Assistance.

Dear Friend.

Please permit me to introduce myself to you, I am Barrister Frank obi,a
Legal Practitioner in London, United Kingdom. I got your contact from the
UK Chambers of Commerce and Trade, and I have decided to contact you so that
we can carry out this mutually beneficial business transaction.

My late Client Mr Harold Wilson an American, until his death deposited a
total of S$5.5M three years ago with Barclays Bank London, United Kingdom.
He was a Director with Shell Petroleum Development Company in Gabon, Western
frica.

Since I am the personal attorney of Mr. Harold Wilson, he gave me the
custody of the deposit documents, and as such entrusted me with the Legal
Rights to transfer and execute this deposit to anyNext of Kin after his
demise. I have since tried to locate any Next of Kin
to Harold Wilson without success, hence I decided to contact you so that
you can rightfully stand as the next of kin to inherit the deposited sum.

This is a staggering sum, and I need a reliable person to help me with
necessary arrangements to transfer the deposited sum out of the United
Kingdom. By virtue of my position as an Attorney, I will arrange the
documents in your name so that you can rightly apply as a Next of Kin to
Late Harold Wilson in a capacity of a Family Friend.
You will be entitled to 40% of the total sum should you be willing to assist
me in this business transaction, and I will get the remaining 60%. I will
prepare a formal agreement to guide us in this transaction for
accountability purpose.

Please contact me as soon as possible so that we can start processing the
documents.for security reasons,contact me through (barrfrankobi_7@yahoo.com)
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly,

Frank Obi.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam