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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:
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447092876063 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr.David Sharp" <barristerdsharp@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: tanfieldlawchamber@delfi.lv
Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2006 16:05:05 +0000
Subject: REPLY PLEASE

Barr.David Sharp.
2-5 Warwick Court,
London, WC1R 5DJ.
DX: 46 London, Chancery Lane.
Fax:+447092876063
      
Attn: Sir/Madam,

 

I am Barrister David Sharp.a solicitor and personal lawyer to late Sheikh Khalifa Algosaibi who was the Chairman of Khalifa .A. Algosaibi Holding Co in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Khalifa Algosaibi had been closely involved in traditional family business of pearl diving in Bahrain and a well known Philanthropist, before he died, made a Will with me ( My Chambers ) stating that $8.2Million USD (only) should be donated to any Charity Home of my choice overseas. I have therefore decided to make an electronic random draw on emails and your e-mail address was picked. Can you assist me disburse these funds accordingly? This implies that you will stand as the beneficiary to this Will so that the funds could be processed and transferred to your account from the Bank where this fund is presently lying.

 

I am particularly interested in securing this money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing me to produce the beneficiary of this Will as soon as possible or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury. It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of my late client. You are required to contact me immediately to start the process of transferring this money to any of your designated account. I urge you to contact me on the above fax number. Or email me immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given me a date limit.

 

Please act fast and I hope we could work together as a team to execute this transaction successfully. I shall educate you further on this project and your stakes and obligations shall be made known to you as soon as I here from you. Please keep this project strictly confidential bearing in mind that you are not the true beneficiary to this Will.

 

Looking forward to hear from you.
Yours faithfully,
Barr.David Sharp.

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam