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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Dennis Willert Jr" <willert0008@gmail.com>
Reply-To: www.jrwillert@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 03:44:31 -0700
Subject: Please Get Back To Me Immediately


Dennis Willert Chambers
Plot 1554 Acra
Ghana West Africa.

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Dennis Willert Jr, a Solicitor at law. I am the Personal
Attorney to Mr. Harold. A Citizen of your Country that reside in African
doing Business.

On the 31st of April 2006, my Client, his Wife and their Two Children were
involved in a Car Accident in which all Occupants of the Vehicle Died. My
Client Deposited as Family Belonging in a Security Company in Ghana,Ghana
West Africa the Sum of$9.4Million with the hope of Transferring it to his
Country as soon as he is on leave. Since his Death I have made Several
Attempts to locate any of my Clients Extended Relatives. I found out that he
was the only Son of his Father before his Father died.

After these Several Unsuccessful Attempts, Hence I contacted you. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the Money and Property left behind
by my Client before they get Confiscated or Declared Unserviceable by the
Security Comopany where the Deposit was made. Now the Security Comopany has
issued me a Notice to Provide the Next of Kin or have the Money Confiscated
within the Next Fourteen Official Working Days. Since I have been
unsuccessful in locating the Relatives for over 2 years now. I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin of the Deceased. All Legal
Documents to aid your Claim for this Fund and to prove your Relationship
with the deceased will be arranged by me here in my Country.

Your help will be appreciated with 30% of the Total Sum. All I require is
your Honest Co-Operation to enable us seeing this Deal through. I guarantee
that this will be executed under a Legitimate Arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law. Please accept my apologies, keep my
confidence and disregard this letter if you do not appreciate this
proposition I have offered you. However, if you do please include your Phone
and Fax Numbers in your response for better Communication.

God bless you and your Family.

Best regards,

Barrister Dennis Willert Jr.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam