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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: George Berge <george@bergegeorge.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2006 05:34:30 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Information On Mr. Robert Thorne


Sir,
I just saw your profile on a site and felt that it might interest you on the offer which I have for you and I utterly apologize for reaching you through this medium.

I am Mr. George Richard Berge of L. E.Williams & Associates (Solicitors and Advocates), attorney to Mr. Robert Thorne (late), a Mechanical Engineering Consultant and hereinafter refer as "my deceased client".

My deceased client (he) and his family unfortunately died in a car crash on the 8th day of August 2003 en-route to board flight to Australia. Whereas he did not write a will or leave information that could trace or locate his relatives, I am saddled with the responsibility to provide his relative who will inherit his outstanding Contracts Payment of $13,000,000.00 as stated in the notice that I received from the Bank, and Company where my deceased client executed contracts, to provide the my deceased client's relative who will inherit the contracts payment or have it confiscated.

Subsequently, I am unable to locate any of the relatives on which I embarked on a search that availed me your contact. And rather than leave the payment confiscated I seek your assistance so that we can inherit the overdue contracts payment. I as the deceased's attorney have the jurisdiction to process a Court affidavit and letter of administration that will award the account to us. There is no risk with the transaction, as it will be processed within the limit of law.

In consent with this request please write me at (mrgberge@todito.com) so that we can proceed with this transaction in earnest.

Yours faithfully,
L. E. Williams & Associates
George Berge Esq.
(Advocate)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam