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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:
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • ssw231101@ny.com

Fraud email example:

From: "simon shaveler" <simonvler2@msn.com>
Reply-To: ssw231101@ny.com
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 07:19:51 +0000
Subject: Goodday friend.

BARRISTER SIMON SHAVELER
SOLICITORS & ADVOCATES
LONDON,U.K.

Dear Friend,
I write you in good faith, hoping that you will treat
this letter as a desperate search for assistance in a
matter that shall benefit both of us. A random search
based on your locality from the Internet produced your
name and address and that of two others in your
country.

I am SIMON SHAVELER an Attorney to a deceased Immigrant
property magnate who was based in the U.K., also
referred to as my client.On the 31st of July 2000, my
client, his wife and their two Children died in the Air
France concord plane crash bound for New York in their
plan for a world cruise,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Since then I have been managing his properties here in
the U.K. and some others which he put out for sale.
The properties which have long been put out on sale
have now been paid for and now the money paid has long
been deposited into his local bank account here. I
have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money
and estate left behind by my client before they get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by his bank.

Particularly, the bank has issued me with a notice to
provide any of his next of kin or have the account
confiscated within a short period of time. My late
client has an account valued at US8.5 Million United
States Dollars Only. Since I have been unsuccessful in
locating any of my clients relatives for some time now
and with no one coming forward since my clients
passing on, and with the bank now giving me a
deadline, I now seek your consent to present you as
the next of kin to my deceased client, so that the
proceeds of his account valued at US8.5 Million United
States Dollars Only can be paid to you. This I intend
we share amongst ourselves in the ratio of 50% to me
and 40% for you while the balance 10% we shall use for
settling any miscellaneous expenses that might arise.
I have all the necessary information that can be used
to back up any Claim that we may make and I can assure
you that you shall be paid this amount as the next of
kin to my late client.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us
see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law. Trust me as
his attorney that this is arisk-free relationship.
Please get in touch with me via email and send me your
full names and address, telephone and fax numbers to
enable us discuss further about this
transaction.

Best regards,

Simon Shaveler.

NB: Please reply only to my email address above
(ssw231101@ny.com) for confidentiality.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam