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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:
  • "huge deposit" (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.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "barristertomjim02" <barristertomjim02@terra.com.mx>
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 20:47:31 -0600
Subject: Re Reply Fisher Please


Dear Fisher,
I am Barrister Tom Jim, the personal attorney to Mr. Cole Fisher on the 21st of May 2004,my client Mr. Cole Fisher and, his family was involved in auto crash accident in New York, 19 people were burnt to death unfortunately my client, and his family lost their lives. Before his death, he deposited 5.5 million dollars with a Finance Security Company/Bank here in California united State of America.
Since then I have made several enquiries to his embassy to locate any of his 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 late Customer before the Security Company/Bank get the money confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Company/Bank where this huge deposit were lodged. Particularly, this company where the deceased had an account valued at about USD5.5 million dollars has issued 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 2years 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 USD5.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money, 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 by my email: and send to me your contact information for easy communication to enable us discuss further about this mutually beneficial transaction.
Thanks and God bless .
Regards,
Tom Jim Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam