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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:
  • "trunk box" (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)
• 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.
  • claude2@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:35:19 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Urgent Message: John Benson




Dear=A0 John Benson,
=A0
I am Frederic Jean-Claude(Esq),a solicitor at law.personal attorney to late=
Mr.Robert=A0Benson ,who was a contractor with European Development company=
..Herein after shall be referred to my client On the 11th of september 2001 =
my client was involved in world trade center bombing unfortunately lost his=
live three mounth after the incident due to injuries he substained in the =
bombing , since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locat=
e any of my client extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name=
to locate any of his relatives hence I have contacted you to assist in rep=
atriating the fund valued at US$10.5 million left behind by my client befor=
e it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Unitrust Security Co=
mpany in Lome/Togo where this huge amount was deposited in a trunk box unde=
r the coverage of family valuables. The said security company has issued me=
a notice to provide the next of kin or have this box confiscated within th=
e next twenty one official working days as they don't know the content of t=
he box.
=A0
Since I have been unsuccessfully in locating the relatives for over 2years =
now,I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased,s=
o that the proceedings of this boxes can be transfer to you.Therefore, on r=
eceipt of your positive response,we shall then discuss the sharing ratio an=
d modalities for transfers as I have every necessary information and legal =
documents needed to back you up for claim.
=A0
All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this tra=
nsaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate a=
rrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
=A0
Please get in touch with me through my private=A0 email=A0 ( frederic_jean-=
claude2@hotmail.fr)
=A0
Thanks and God bless
Frederic Jean-Claude (Esq).=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam