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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "this mail will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (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: "Barr David Mbu" <barr_davidmbu@msn.com>
Reply-To: barr_davidmbu@walla.com
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 09:26:40 +0000
Subject: URGENT.

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
DAVID MBUAND CO.
FROM THE DESK OF BARR. DAVID MBU.
I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise,please accept the content in good faith. The reason for sending this mail is very fundamental to the doctrine of human privileges and right.

I am Barrister David Mbu, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Charles Norman, a national of your country, who used to work with Chevron Oil Producing Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 25th of Decembar 2003, my client,on the single reason of visiting his inlaws.His wife{A LEBANESE} and their only daughter were involved in a Plane crash on their way home for the holidays and were among the 111 people confirmed dead.

Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has also proved usuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$18.7 million Left behind by my client before it get Confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance Firm where this huge amount was deposited.

The said Finance Company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated in the next six months.For the fact that I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives since then I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the percentage that is comming to me after the money is been creditted in your chosen account and the modalities for transfer.

I can assist in procuring the necessary information and legal documents that may be needed to actualise this proposal.All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Alternative
PLEASE VIEW THE WEBSITE:
www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html
Regards.
Barr.David Mbu.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam