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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
  • chambers_attorneymichallan@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Rita Osborne" <rw67_osborne@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2006 10:57:50 -0800
Subject: Mrs Rita Osborne

Dear Friend,

My name is Mrs Rita Osborne, a Briton by origin, but married to a Scot, Mr
Williams Osborne who was murdered by unknown assailants last year in Wales.

My husband worked in England as an adviser to the Prime Minister of England
for a long time, a post he held until he was brutally murdered by the
suspected rival political parties. We were married for eleven years without
a child. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of Eight
Million pounds sterling.

This fund,(Eight Million pounds sterling) is in a finance company. Presently
this money is still with the Financial Institution.Recently,my Doctor told
me that I might not last for the next Eight months due to an inflammation of
my liver. This has led to my being on 24 hours intensive care,in a private
clinic here in England. I am tired of living like this.

I have decided to donate this fund to an individual, group or a charity
organisation that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct
herein.I want an individual, or Charity Organisation that will use this fund
for orphanages, widows and helping land mine victims worldwide.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this
money and my husband's relatives are opportunists sort of, and I don't want
my husband's efforts to be used for trivialties, instead, i want his name
immortalised. I do not want a situation where my husband's sweat will be
used in material pursuits.

This is why I am taking this decision. Contact my lawyer with this specified
email address Attorney Micheal Allan Esq
Email:chambers_attorneymichallan@yahoo.co.uk and tell him that I have
WILLED £8,000,000 to you by quoting my personal reference number;
Law/chamber/solicitors/rt/osb/WILL/9834520012, and I will also notify him
that I am WILLING that amount to you for a specific purpose.

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will Jeopardize my last
wish. And Also I will be contacting with you by email as I don't want my
relation or anybody to know because they are always around me.

Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another person for
this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I have
stated herein.

My laywer would be waiting to receive your response:
chambers_attorneymichallan@yahoo.co.uk

Remain blessed.
Your Sister,
Mrs.Rita Osborne

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam