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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • micheal_lee_laws@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICHEAL LEE" <micheal_lee-law@excite.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 12:34:18 +0800
Subject: .....Co-operation....

Dear ,

My name is Barr. Micheal Lee, a legal practitioner with Micheal Lee Law Firm
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I saw your contact and profile and decided
that you could co-operate with me in this proposition.

I have a client who was deceased in November 2003,in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. and i felt that you could help me in the distribution
of funds that were left in my deceased client's account.

This fund is close to been declared un-serviceable by the finance
house as there were no indicated next of kin or next of beneficiary
of the fund in the account, having remained dormant for long.The
total amount of cash in the account of my deceased client is US$ 11.4
Million (Eleven Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States dollars
Only ).

The finance house had issued me, a notification to contact the next of
kin of my deceased client, to make beneficiary claim of the fund in the
account, with a month surcharge of 6% to be deducted as an Escrow safe
keeping fee of the account,so as to avoid the indefinite closure of
the account.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent, and to present your
kind self as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my deceased client,
This means that the
proceeds of his account would be paid to you as his next of kin or
the legitimate beneficiary.When the proceeds in his account are paid
to you, we would share the proceeds on a mutually agreed-upon
percentage of 60% to me and 40% to your kind self.

All the legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next
of-kin would be provided by me. The most important thing I would
need is your honest co-operation in this proposition.This would be
done under a legitimate arrangement that would protect you from any
breach of the law.

If this business proposition offends your Value,feel free to decline
this proposal.Please contact me at once if you're interested by
replying the mail.

micheal_lee_laws@excite.com

Yours Faithfully,
Micheal lee
( Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam