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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)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • morriss_walterbegg@yahoo.de (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Morris Walterbegg" <morris_vwalterbegg@yahoo.de>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 23:20:20 -0400
Subject: Your Ungent Attention Is Needed

Dear Friend,

I am Morris Walterbegg, a solicitor at law. I was the personal attorney to
Mr. Lars-Goran Nilson, a national of your country who used to work with an
oil servicing company here in Amsterdam-Netherlands after which be referred
to as my client.

Mr. Lars-Goran Nilson 56 years of age made a fixed deposit of fund valued
at USD$18,500,000 (Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars Only) with a Security Company/Finance Firm here in Europe and
unfortunately lost his life in an Egyptian charter plane Boeing 737 which
crashed into the Red Sea early on January 3, 2004 shortly after taking off
from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all the 135 passengers and 13
crew members aboard, Ref(View:http://english.people.com.cn/200401/04/eng2004
0104_131791.shtml ). He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some
vital documents related to the deposit still in my possession.

Recently, the governing body of the Security Company/Finance Firm contacted
me on this matter, requesting that I should notify the next of kin of my
late client to claim the funds and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin to
make claims to the Fund. I know that my client had no living next of kin but
I went ahead and made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
late clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful.

Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to
present you as the next of kin so that my late client's fund will not be
confiscated by the Security Company. You and I can share the money, you will
be entitled to 50% of the total fund for your role as the relative and next
of kin of my late client, 40% for me while 10% is to be marked out for any
expenses that will be incurred during the clearance or process of transfer
of the fund to your bank account.

Be informed that there is no risk involved as all necessary legal document
which will be used to back you up as the legal beneficiary and next of kin
of my late client will be procured. All I require is your sincerity,
honesty, co-operation and utmost good faith 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.

Kindly, get in touch with me by my e-mail (morriss_walterbegg@yahoo.de) or
telephone to enable us discuss further. You may also send your telephone
number so that I can call you. Do not forget that a transaction of this
magnitude require utmost confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to
your urgent response.

Thank you,
Morris Walterbegg

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam