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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • +447031954196 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • grants2banks@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Grant Banks" <grantbanks24@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2006 16:52:18 +0000
Subject: business inquiry

FROM THE DESK OF
BARRISTER GRANT BANKS
BROAD STREET, BRISTOL BS1 1DR,
DX: 7822 BRISTOL. ENGLAND
EMAIL:grants2banks@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44- 70319-54196
Fax: +44- 870490-2608

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Grant Banks, a solicitor-at-law. I am the personal attorney
to Mr. Bryan Mark, a Canadian citizen, who happens to be a businessman. Here
after shall be referred to as my client. On the 26th of June 2002, my
client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I
have made several enquiries to the embassy to locate any of my clients
extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$14.5M
left behind in a dollar account with a security finance firm here in London
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. For the fact that 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, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
The funds shall be shared in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you

I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up
for the 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 and me from any breach of
the law. Please get in touch with me through my private email:
(grants2banks@yahoo.co.uk) for more details.

Best regards,

Barrister Grant Banks

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam