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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 about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
  • "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.
  • barrben_marthins@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BEN MARTHINS" <ben_executive03@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 23:50:41 +0000
Subject: CONTACT ME ASAP

Attn:
 
I am Barrister Ben Marthins, a solicitor at law. I am practicing with
Marthins Chamber and also the personal attorney to Mr.Kenneth Joel, a
national of your country, who used
to work with Shell-development Company in Nigeria. Here in after
shall be referred to as my client.
 
On the 21st of April 2003, my client, his wife and their three
children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu express road.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since
then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of
my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, to locate any member of
his family hence I contacted you.
 
I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and property
left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit were lodged.

Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account
valued at about 11 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide
the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten
official working days.
 
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3
years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of
the deceased since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds
of this account valued at 11 million dollars can be paid to you and
then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you 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
conclude this deal.
 
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 by my email. Contact me immediately so that we can discuss
further about this issue.
 
Best regards,
 
Barrister,Ben Marthins(SAN),
For the Chamber.
 
N/B: For further enquiries, You can contact the Principal partner in person
of Mr.Ben Marthins,on his mail box:barrben_marthins@yahoo.co.uk.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam