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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +229318810 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • email.davidmorgan782003@latinmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "From Dr.David Morgan" <davidmorgan782003@o2.pl> (may be fake)
Reply-To: davidmorgan782003@latinmail.com
Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 10:33:25 +0100
Subject:

Barrister.David Morgan & Co. Chambers
Solicitors & Advocates.
06 BP 1409 Akpakpa Dodomey,
Cotonou - Benin Republic.
Tel+2299-449-012
Fax+229-318-810
Alternative email.davidmorgan782003@latinmail.com <javascript:functionEscribirAgenda('email.davidmorgan782003%40latinmail.com')>

Attn:

I humbly crave your indulgence in sending you this mail,if the contents
does
not meet
with your personal and business ethics,I appologise in advance.I am
Barrister Glory Jacobs , the Personal Attorney to late Mr Edward K. Manta,
who was a contractor with emelite gold mining company here in Benin. And
on
the 3rd of Oct 2000, my client,and his family were perished in a ghastly
car accident along Midombo Togo express way.But my client made a fixed
deposit valued at (USD$19.8M) and upon the maturity this bank started
contacting him but no response. Conseqently, the bank issued me a notice
to
provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated after four years,
as
the law of this land says.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of
my
clients
extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. Since i have been
unsuccesfull
in locating the relatives for over two years now I seek your consent to
present you as
the next of kin of the deceased since you are from the same country ,so
that
the proceeds of this account valued at $19.8M can be paid to you and then
you and me can share the money.

I know that you might be wondering why i have decided to trust you with
this huge sum, but the truth is that i need you to get this money out and
considering the fact that you are a foreigner which makes it a lot easier
and straight forward. I have all necessary legal documents that can be
used
to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation
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. Please get in touch with me to enable us discuss further about this
claim.

Best regards,
Barrister David Morgan (Esq)
LLB HONS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam