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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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
• 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.
  • chriszamaconsulting@yahoo.co.uk
  • nom.nom@laposte.net

Fraud email example:

From: "christopher.zama" <christopher.zama@laposte.net>
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:27:32 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Very urgent


Dear Friend

I am Mr. Christopher Zama a solicitor at law, and I am the personal Attorney to Mr. Ahmed Yusuf, a nationality of your country, who lived in South Africa. Thereafter shall be referred to as my client.

On the 30th of June 2006, my client was involved in a car accident along Johannesburg Pretoria highway. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared Unserviceable by the (BANK) where this huge deposit was lodged here in the Republic of South Africa.

My client the deceased had an amount valued at about USD$8,500,000.00. After notification of the death of the deceased they issued me a notice to provide the next of kin as the beneficiary to claim the deposits or have the amount confiscated, because it has been laying there for along time and it is accumulating a lot of charges.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives all this while till now, that's why I seek your consent to purport you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that this amount valued at $8,500,000.00 can be paid to your private or company’s account.

If you accept, we can discuss the percentage you will have as compensation for your involvement. I have all necessary legal papers that can be used to back up the facts and claim on the fund Release. All I require is your honest, co-operation and Sincerity 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. Reply to my email. chriszamaconsulting@yahoo.co.uk

Awaiting your immediate and favorable response.

Yours sincerely,
Christopher Zama (ESQ).

Créez votre adresse électronique prénom.nom@laposte.net
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam