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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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 Harry L. MacLean MacLean" <hlmbarr1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barrhlm@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 20:56:07 +0000
Subject: FROM: HARRY L. MACLEAN, ESQ.

FROM: HARRY L. MACLEAN, ESQ.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

Greetings,

First I must introduce this transaction as one that requires absolute
confidentiality. I am Barrister Harry L. MacLean, an attorney at law based
in Glasgow, Scotland. I desire to introduce a business opportunity involving
US$15,400,000.00 to you regarding a deceased client of mine, by name John
Knill of Vancouver, British Columbia, who died in Khao Lak, Thailand with
his wife Jackie Knill and family as a result of the deadly Tsunami. Please
log to these websites for more about the Tsunami:

(1) www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/tsunami.disaster/
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

I am contacting you to partner me in ensuring that the funds lodged by my
client with a Financial and Security Institution in a secret location here
in western Europe is not confiscated and paid into the coffers of the
government as unclaimed funds because the finance company is aware that my
client and his entire family died in the Tsunami. The Financial Institution
has issued me a notice to contact and produce the next of kin or the funds
will be confiscated and paid into the government sundry account. My
proposition is to seek your consent to present you as the "next-of-kin and
beneficiary" of my late client, so that the proceeds of this fund can be
paid to you and then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon
percentage. Right now, I offer you 25% for your participation while I take
70% of the originator of this transaction. The balance 5% will be used to
settle any expenses that either of us may incur in the course of concluding
this transaction provided a sincere inventory of expense is produced. All
legal documents to substantiate (back up) your claim as my client's
next-of-kin will be provided by me as I have all deposit documents and
copies of the last will and testament in my possession.

All I require is your honest cooperation and committed participation to
enable us see this transaction through. For security reasons, I will only
give you my complete contact details when I receive your response to this
email. I request that you send your home mailing address, phone and fax
numbers in addition with any picture or identity of you in your response to
this email.

Once I have this information from you I will prepare all legal documents and
forward to the Bank to confirm and will send you the affidavit of claim and
an agreement to sign. I want you to send me all the information requested
for, so that I can start the written instruction/agreement and have it sent
to you. This transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. If this business
proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. Please contact
me at once to indicate your interest.

However, if you are willing to assist me in this venture I will establish a
verbal telephone communication with you and bring you into a much better
picture of the situation.

Best Regards,
Harry L. MacLean, Esq.
Glasgow Scotland.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam