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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 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)
  • "million 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)
  • "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: "Barrister Richard Wilson" <barrister@barrister.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: barristerwilson@terramail.com.sv
Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2006 18:22:09 +0200
Subject: From Barrister Wilson

BARRISTER RICHARD WILSON.
RICHARD WILSON & ASSOCIATES
DAKAR-SENEGAL
TEL: + 221 418 3317
Email: barristerwilson@terramail.com.sv

Compliments of the day,

My name is Barrister Richard Wilson. I am the personal solicitor to the Thompson's family, they unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261, which crashed on January 31/2000. You may read more about the crash on visiting this C.N.N News Internet website.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/

Since we heard of there death, I have made several enquires to locate any of my clients extended relatives but all my efforts proved unsuccessful and to no avail. I desperately need your assistance to secure and move the huge sums of money left behind by my late client to the tune of $20,000,000,00 (Twenty million united states dollars).

The security/finance company where the deceased client deposited this huge sum of money has served me a write of notice to provide the NEXT OF KIN of my client or the (money) will be confiscated and send to the government treasury as unclaimed funds. Since I have tried and failed for six years in locating his relatives, I am now seeking for your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the money will be paid to you, I will pay you 40% of the total sum for your cooperation in this matter. I will give you more details, on your positive response; include in your reply your direct telephone number so that we can discuss in details.

Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Richard Wilson (ESQ)
TEL: + 221 418 3317
Email: barristerwilson@terramail.com.sv

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam