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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: Mr frank dikko <frank_dikko2000@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: dikkolegalchambers@verizonmail.com
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 08:29:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Kor Bonthuis


Barrister.Frank Dikko.
Harry & associates(legal practionner/advocates)
Lome Togo.
West Africa. Tel;00228 914 26 95.

Dear Kor Bonthuis,

Dear as it may be of your keen interest. I am Barrister..Frank Dikko, a solicitor at law, personal attorney to Mr.J.Bonthuis,a national Of your country and a contractor with Togo Regional Water Sccheme in Lome Togo. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2005, my client,his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Nouvissi express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$12.568 million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge amount were deposited.

The said bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confisicated if no response within their next Board Meeting.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim.

All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me via the above email for more details and God bless you.

Best Regards.
Barrister..Frank Dikko,Esq
Lome_Togo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam