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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:

• 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 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)
  • "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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (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.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22993905399 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • barrjohnbasil@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "john basil" <barrjohnbasil4@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:35:47 +0100
Subject: GOOD NEWS MY DEAR FRIEND


JOHN.BASIL & CO. CHAMBERS, L.L..B. L.L.M B.L
LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, SOLICITORS AND CONSULTANTS,
MEMBER CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE 1995.
PLOT 121, COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.


Hello dear friend,

I am calling from Benin Republic West Africa. I am Barrister Basil Chika, an
English speaking Beninoise, Solicitor and Financial Attorney/Consultant. I
was moved to contact you based on the present condition of things here.There
is a foreigner who registered with my Legal firm as his personal Attorney
and he was a stock broker as well as a one time secret agent in importing
oil from overseas for our former Ministers. My client was also a
Diamond/Gold Merchant.

So, on 2nd June 2001 my client made a Fixed deposit for US$42,800,000.00
(Fourty Two Million, Eight Hundred Thousand US Dollars Only) with a Bank
here in Benin, with standing statement/agreement with the bank that all
correspondences in respect to the fixed deposit contract must be sent to him
through my humble chambers. Upon maturity, the routine notification was sent
to me, which I dispatched to his forwarding address as usual without a
reply.

After a month, I sent a reminder which I received from the bank without any
reply again. Finally, I discovered from my client's contract employee that
he died among many others on Sept.11, 2001 Terrorist attack though his death
was on a secondary cause during the inferno and his names were not listed in
the 9/11 datas. He died without making any WILL and all attempts to trace
his relatives was fruitless.

I also discovered that he did not declare any kin or relations in all his
official documents, including his fixed deposit contract with the bank.
Hence I seek your consent to present you to this bank as the next of kin
based on the official letter I just received from his bankers reminding me
that BENINOISE LAW states that at the expiration of eight (8) years the
money will be reverted to the ownership of the BENINOISE Government if I do
not confirm the next of kin to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in
as the next of kin to my deceased client since you shares the same surname
and also from this same country so that the fruits of this old man's labor
will not go into the hands of some corrupt government officials.

Note that this transaction is simple and risk free because I will provide
expert legal services that will guarantee the successful execution of this
deal. If you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible through
phone, I shall provide you with more details and how we shall proceed with
the claims.I expect you to observe utmost confidentiality and be rest
assured that this transaction would be profitable for both of us. Kindly
reply to my secured email account as barrjohnbasil@yahoo.fr Thanks as I
await for your reply.

Best Regards,

Hon. Barrister JOHN BASIL
+229 93 90 53 99

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam