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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:
  • "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.
  • smithmartinchambers@smithmartinchambers.cjb.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Smith Martins" <s_martins01@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 06:10:48 +0000
Subject: HELLO:Hoekstra

Attn:Hoekstra,

EMAIL :(smithmartinchambers@smithmartinchambers.cjb.net)

I am Barrister Smith Martin a Legal practitioner to the Harmony law
Chambers,situated at London U.K.I am the personal attorney to Mr.Hoekstra a
national of your country, who used to work with Shell Development Company in
London.

Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2003,
my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident
along west london express road.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately
lost there lives.Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy
here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track
his last name over the Internet,to locate any member of his family hence I
contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued
at US$10.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or
declared unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm where this huge amount
were deposited.

The said Security Finance company has issued me a notice to provide the next
of kin or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official
working days.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for
over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to
the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of
this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive
response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for
transfer.

I have all the necessary information and legal documents needed to back you
up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us
see this transaction through I guarantee that this will be executed under
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me through this email: Alternative
(smithmartinchambers@smithmartinchambers.cjb.net) for more details.

God Bless You.
Yours in service,
Smith Martin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam