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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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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 next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "kwame ayu" <ayukwamechambers019@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barristerayu1963@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 10:26:27 +0000
Subject: ATTN:ABERCROMBIE.

Sir/Madam.
I am Barrister Kwame Ayu, a solicitor at law. I was the personal attorney to
MR. K.C.ABERCROMBIE a nationallity of your country who used to work with
Shell-development Company in Accra-Ghana. Herein 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 Kumasi 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 is lodged.
Particularly, the finance company where my late cleint had an account valued
at about 10 Million Dollars has issued me a notice as his attorney to
provide his 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 including valuables and cash valued at us$10
Million will be paid to you and then you and I 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 co-operation 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.
Barr. Kwame Ayu.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam