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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • barr_johnwill@mixmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN WILLIAM" <barr_johnwilliam8@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 07:54:22 +0000
Subject: be the next of kin

John William & CO CHAMBERS
SOLICITORS & ADVOCATES
101 HDC 5006 Akpakpa Minoshu,
Cotonou - Benin Republic.
email+ barr_johnwill@mixmail.com

Dear Friend.

I humbly crave your indulgence in sending you this mail,if the contents does
not meet with your personal and business ethics,I appologise inadvance.i am
Barrister John William ,Personal Attorney to late Mr.Eric Alexander here in
Benin Republic.

On 3rd of Oct 2002, my client,and his family were perished in a ghastly car
accident along Midombo Togo express way.But my client made a fixed dopsit
valued at (USD$5.9M) , and upon the maturity his bank started contacting him
but no response.Conseqently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next
of kin or have the account confiscated after four years, as the law ofthis
land says.

Since then Ihave made several enquiries to their Embassy to locate any of my
client sextended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. Since i have
been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over five years now I seek
your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the
proceeds of this account valued at $5.9 can be paid to you and then you and
me can share the money.

I know that you might be wonder why i have decided to trust you with this
huge sum, but the truth is that i need you to get this money out,considering
the fact that your a foreigner will makes it a lot easier and straight
forward for us to claim this money from the bank.

Note that am going to obtain all necessary legal documents in your name to
back up any claim and submit to the bank to prove that you are the next of
kin to my Late client.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law.

contact me with this email address barr_johnwill@mixmail.com

Thanks and God Bless you


Best regards,

Barrister John William.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam