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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (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.
• 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.
  • barrgodsonjames@yahoo.com.hk

Fraud email example:

From: POST DIPLOMAT CORPS <dipcorps20@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <dukejmartins@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 05:59:28 +0000
Subject: Good Day


>From the Desk of,
Barrister Godson JamesChiang Mai, Thailand.+66894986536 Greetings to you, With warm heart I offer my friendship, and greetings, andhope this mail meets you in good time. However strange orsurprising this contact might seem to you as we have not met personally or had any dealings in the past, am Barr. Prebu Guchee. am the Personal Attorney whorepresented the interest of one Mr. Hans Busch an Agriculturist who until his untimely death lived and madea living as an Agriculturist. I humbly ask that you take due consideration of itsimportance and the immense benefit it will be to both ofus. After careful consideration am soliciting for yourassistance based on this proposition below, PROPOSITION: Mr. Hans Busch, an Austrian 66 years of age and a veryprosperous farmer and a business man made a huge depositfor investment in the sum of US$23,500,000. = (Twenthy-ThreeMillion Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) he named his wifeMrs. Silvia Busch as the NEXT OF KIN to his estate. Unfortunately Sir and Mrs. Silvia Busch were killed in the December 26, 2004 Thailand Tsunami that destroyed, killingThousands of people and 665 others were declared missing.You can view my client and her lovely wife by visiting:http://missingpersons.or.th/lostform_foundlistdetail.php?lost_id=200412311955 I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clientsextended relatives, through the Austrian High Commission here in Bangkok but to no avail and unsuccessful.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fundleft behind by my late client because the bank have askedme as his lawyer to produce his next of kin, the bankingsystem here in Thailand stipulates that if such money remainswith the bank for a period of 4 years it will be transferred into the coffers of Her Majesty's (THE QUEEN) account of the Treasury In order to avoid this development. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law of your country and myCountry too as a professional legal attorney in this field. If you are interested in assisting me with this matter, please, send to me urgently via my email the following details below:1. Your full names.2. Your Private telephone and fax number (urgent)3. Your date of birth (Age) and proof that you can handlesuch a huge amount of money and that you are a responsibleand very a serious person. Based on this opportunity, upon receiving the abovedetails from you, I will work out every document/proofrepresenting you as the deceased BONA-FIDE distantRelative and when this is done, you will be contacted bythe bank for the release and collection of the fund, whichwill be within two week of my receiving the above detailsfrom you. I will meet with you in your country after the funds havebeen released to you and also to discuss investmentPotentials and have my share of the money. May I assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free,as I have taken care of all necessary modalities as hisATTORNEY to enable a hitch-free transaction. I await your Favorable response through thisemail: barrgodsonjames@yahoo.com.hk Yours sincerely,Barr. Godson James
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam