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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:

• 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 sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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 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.
  • barri_james@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "bar_james" <bar_james@terra.com.mx>
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2006 11:34:52 -0600
Subject: Dear Friend,



Dear Friend,


I am Barrister.James Wetauba jr, and I amcontacting you on a business
transfer of a huge sum of money from adeceased account. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitudewill make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you thatall will be well at the end of the day. I decided to contact you due tothe urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION;

I discovered anabandoned sum of US$10,500,000.00 (Ten million five hundred thousandunited states dollars) in an account that belongs to one of my clientwho is a foreigner, he died along with his entire family.

Since hisdeath, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward to layclaims for this money as the heir. The (bank) cannot release the fundfrom his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin tothe deceased as indicated in their banking guidelines. Upon thisdiscovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kinto my late client as all documentations will be carefully worked out byus for the funds(US$10,500,000.00) to be released in your favour as thebeneficiary's next of kin.

It may interest you to know that wehave secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate any of thedeceased beneficiaries.Please acknowledge receipt of this message inacceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with thefollowing;

1. Beneficiary name and address
2. Direct Telephoneand fax numbers

These requirements will enable us file letter ofclaim to the appropriate departments for necessary approvals in yourfavour before the transfer can be made. I shall be compensating you witha One million five hundred thousand dollars(1.5million dollars) on finalconclusion of this project, while the rest shall be for us forinvestment purposes in your country that you will propose to me.


If this proposal is acceptable by you, do take advantage of thisopportunity, by replying me on this mail address:barri_james@sify.com


Please reply as soon as possible.

Regards,
Barr.JamesWetauba jr

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam