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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 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:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "@lawyer.com" (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.
  • usman@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "usman@lawyer.com" <barrusman0@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: usman@lawyer.com
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:40:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: MESSAGE FROM YOUR FAMILY LAWYER TO:Jacqueline Winter


BARRISTER USMAN ESQ
LEGAL PRACTITIONAL/SOLICITOR
RUE 52 PISIMOULA OFF FEDERAL HIGH COURT WAY
LOME TOGO/WEST AFRICA
PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS;usman@lawyer.com



Attention Jacqueline Winter,

Private Message

I am contacting you for the claim of your late uncle fund that was deposited with the Ecowas-Bank of Africa Lome-Togo.

I am soliciting for your confidence in this matter, this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top Secret. Though I know that a contact of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well since I know everything about your late uncle fund.

I have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this matter. Let me start by introducing myself properly to you. I am Barrister Usman, the personal Attorney to your late uncle Engr.J.B.Winter(Snr)an oil Merchant with the Federal Government of lome-togo,who die some years ago in Air France Craft (A310-300)Flight KQ430.

He was Banking with Ecowas-Bank Lome Togo and had a closing balance as at the end of september,2001 worth $10.5M (ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).The bank now expects the Next of Kin to come forward as beneficiary.

Efforts have been made by the Ecowas-Bank Lome Togo to get in touch with any of the Deceased Family or Relatives, but they have met with no success.

Now the management under the influence of the bank Chairman and Members of the Board of directors, has made arrangement for the fund to be declared Unclaimed so that they can share the money amongst themselves.

In order to avert this negative development, it is my duty to contact you since your name was amongst listed in his personal files that was with me, now you are to stand as the next of kin to his properties.

All documents and proof to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out by me for this claim. I have secured from the probate an order of Mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries, and more so am assuring you that this claim is 100% risk free.

Now it is left for you decide on what you will give as my percentage for assisting you in this claim.remember that you most Reply lmmediately.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours Sincerely

Barrister Usman ESQ




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam