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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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: "Bar. Fate." <fat_fa02@she.com> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:57:57 +0700
Subject: Thanks for your concern.

Dear Friend,
I am barrister Fate Anderson (Solicitor)a national from Ghana. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr.Jordan Chris, who works with Chevron Oil Company in Saudi Arabia, My Client was invovled in a money scandal wwhich as a result as caused him a transfer from Saudi Arabia to Africa where him and the family crashed on April 2003.
Since then I have made several enquiries to his 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 ask of you as a supposed relative to enable both parties claim this fund. I have contacted you to assist in transfering the money left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the Finance House where this huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the Finance House where the deceased had a valued of US$9 million dollars to be precisely has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated. Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 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 US$9 million dollars can be paid to us.
Thereafter, 25% to you and 70% for me,while 5% should be for incidental expenses that government may required either in your country or mine. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up the claim. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Endeavour to get back to me for further negotiations processes.
Best Regards,
Bar. Fate.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam