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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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: edward boniy <barr_ewdardbon20005@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 14:13:54 +1200
Subject: Dear friend



Dear friendI crave your indulgence, knowing that this letter will be a surprise to you. I am Barrister (Edward Bongani), an attorney at law and the accredited legal representative to A deceased client of mine, who here in after shall be referred to as my client, died as a result of heart-related condition in February 2003 here in Malaysia.I have contacted you to assist in the distribution of the funds left behind by my late client, before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the custodian bank, and this deposit valued:(US$5 .5 million) United States Dollars.This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or have the account confiscated. My proposition to you is to seek your consent in presenting you as the next of kin(beneficiary)to my late client's Estates, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be remitted into your account as a foreign partner. Then we can both share the funding on a mutually agreed percentage.All legal documentations to back up your claims as my late client's next of kin will be provided. All I require is your absolute honesty, co-operation and total adherence to my instructions, to enable us transfer this funds into your account smoothly. This transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement, whichwill protect you from any infraction of the law.If this proposition offends your moral ethics, do accept my sincere apology. In the contrary, if it pleases you, then contact me with urgency viathis email address indicating your interest.I shall await your response.Yours faithfully,Barr. Edward Bongani Attorney at L
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam