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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "million 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: WAUREEN BRUNO <wbwbruno02@live.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:34:35 -0500
Subject: FROM THE CHAMBER OF BARRISTER WAUREEN BRUNO.



FROM THE CHAMBER OF BARRISTER WAUREEN BRUNO.
Dear friend,
I am Barrister wuareen Bruno ,the Personal Attorney to Mr Larry ,a national of your country who used to work with Mekon Associates company in Nigeria,On the 2nd of March 2003, my client, his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Port Harcourt Road.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet,to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the finance house where this huge deposits were lodged.Particularly, the finance house where the deceased had an account valued at about 11.3million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official workingdays.since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over years now.
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $11.3 dollars can be paid to you and then you and i can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require,I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please get in touch with me to enable us discuss further. You can mail me back via this id: brunowaubruno@gmail.comThank you,
yours at law.Barrister Waureen Bruno ESQ.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam