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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (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. )
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: barristermike1@sify.com
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:38:12 +0530 (IST)
Subject: I am Barr. Mike Kiyamo Piget Esq. an Attorney at Law


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: barristermikepiget@yahoo.in



- I am Barr. Mike Kiyamo Piget Esq. an Attorney at Law. I am the Personal Attorney to Engr. Leon Welter, a German by Birth, who was a contractor with Shell Petroleum Development Company in London UK.Here in after shall be referred to as my Client. On the 21st of April 2006 my client, his wife and their three Children were involved in a fatal car Accident along AN Express road in western London, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I have made several inquires to Several Embassy 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 that also proofed unsuccessful hence I contacted you. So that I can present you to the bank as the next of kin to my late client and the bank will not hesitate to pay you this money for both our benefit.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 Bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about (US$8.5m) Eight Million Five Hundred United States Dollars. The Bank Has issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin or have the Account confiscated within the next 21 working days. Since I have been Unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 8 months now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at (US$8.5M) Eight Million Five Hundred United States Dollars can be paid to you for both our benefit.This Money can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money, All Necessary legal documents will be in place that can be used to back up any Claim we may make. 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 do get in touch with me through email address as stated above for more Details, once I have your consent and trust then we can proceed immediately.Your anticipated response is urgently needed.Yours Truly,Barrister. Mike Kiyamo Piget (Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam