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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (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.
• 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.
  • benjaminbarristerosmund@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Laura A Seewald (S)" <l_seewald@ColoradoCollege.edu>
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:40:30 -0600
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF OSMUND BENJAMIN

FROM THE DESK OF OSMUND BENJAMIN
ADMINISTRATOR AND TREASURER
1 HARE COURT CHAMBERS OF BRUCE BLAIR QC
ADDRESS: 1 HARE COURT TEMPLE LONDON EC4Y
7BE DX: 342 CHANCERY LANE


DEAR FRIEND ,

I AM BARRISTER OSMUND BENJAMIN, ATTORNEY AT LAW A DECEASE CLIENT OFMINE,BY
NAME MR.THOMAS , WHO HEREINAFTER SHALL BE REFFERED TO AS MY
CLIENT,DIED ASA RESULT OF HEART-RELATED CONDITION IN 2006.

I AM CONTACTING YOU TO ASSIT IN REPATRIATING THE MONEY LEFT BEHIND BY MY
CLIENT BEFORE IT IS CONFISCATED OR DECLARED UNSERVICEABLE BY THE
BANK WHERE THIS DEPOSIT VALUE AT (US29, 000,000.00 TWENTY NINE MILLION

UNITEDSTATES DOLLARS) IS LOGDED. THIS BANK HAS ISSUED ME A NOTICED TO
CONTACT THE NEXT OF KIN OR THE ACCOUNT WILL BE CONFISCATED. MY PROPOSITION
TO YOU IS TO SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS
THE NEXT OF KIN /BENEFICIARYOF MY LATE CLIENT, SO THAT THE PROCEEDS OF
THIS ACCOUNT CAN BEPAID TO YOU THEN WE CAN SHARE THE AMOUNT ON A MUTUALLY
AGREED PERCENTAGE.

ALL LEGAL DOCUMENT TO BACK UP YOUR CLAIM AS MY CLIENT NEXT OF KIN WILL
BEPROVIDED. ALL I REQUIRE FROM YOU IS YOUR HONEST CO-OPERATION TO ENABLE
US SEE THIS TRANSACTION THROUGH. THIS WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER A LEGITIMATE
ARRANGEMENT THAT WILL PROTECT YOU FROM ANY BREACH OF THE LAW

IF THISBUSINESS PROPOSITION OFFENDS YOUR MORAL VALUES, DO ACCEPT MY
APOLOGY.

BE REST ASSURED ONCE MORE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREEANDTHERE
WILL BE NO HITCHES EITHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, AS EVERYSUPPOSEDLY LOOSE
ENDS HAVE BEEN KNITTED BY OUR LEGAL TEAM.

YOU ARE TO PROVIDE TO ME THESE INFORMATIONS COMPILED BELOW TO ENABLE ME

DRAFT A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IMMEDIATELY:

(1) FULL KNOWN NAMES
(2) HOME CONTACT ADDRESS
(3) OFFICE ADDRESS
(4) OCCUPATIONAL STATUS
(5) AGE MARITAL STATUS
(6) COUNTRY
(7) DIRECT CELL PHONE NUMBER, HOME NUMBER AND FAX NUMBERS

PLS REPLY TO THIS MAIL:benjaminbarristerosmund@yahoo.co.uk
I ANTICIPATE A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM YOU.

BEST REGARDS,
BARRISTER OSMUND BENJAMIN.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam