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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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. )
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (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 Ricardo <ricardo200_8@msn.com>
Reply-To: <ricadoportal@live.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:29:02 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY IS REQUIRED





Barrister Ricardo Portal
Estudio Juridico Castellana
Caracas, 27
Madrid 28010 Spain.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Before I proceed, I must first apologize for this unsolicited letter to you. I am aware that this is certainly not a conventional way of approach to establish a relationship of trust, but I do have limited choice. My name is Barrister Ricardo Portal a Solicitor working with Estudio Juridico Castellana with address: Caracas, 27 Madrid 28010 Spain Actually, I got your contact address from the
internet while searching for a reputable business partner in your country's public records. My Late client Mr. Johannes Reinhold , a business mogul who had casinos and restaurants, lived in Spain for many years, my client, her husband and their one child were involved in an underground train crash in the eastern city of Valencia as Victims of the Tuesday, 4 July 2006, Incident that befall the Spanish.

You can confirm through this website
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5143738.stm)

Before his death, on my advice as his lawyer he deposited One Trunk Box/Diplomatic Personal Treasure, containing the sum of US$50,000,000:00 ( Fifty million dollars) cash with a security company here in Spain, on a highly security form but he did not disclosed the content of deposited diplomatic consignment to the company, for security reasons. The security company has mandated me to present any family heir/inheritor for claims, before the consignment gets confiscated or reverts to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, as unclaimed diplomatic immunity. So I decided to search for any of my late client's relative which has been very difficult for me, as he did not declare any other person, address, partner or relatives in the official
paper works of his diplomatic consignment deposit. Mr. Johannes was my private client. I will not like you to involve any third party in this transaction, just me and you .Besides I am doing this on my own personal capacity and do not wish to bring my office into it.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr. Johannes Reinhold, with my position as his lawyer, I will now appoint and recognize you as the heir. I will obtain
every relevant document from the probate to make your claim legal. Note that this process is not risky in any manner and it is completely legal but might not be justified morally. Once the fund is released to you, I am proposing 40% of
the total sum to you for your involvement.10% would be set aside for any expenses that could be incurred during the transaction.

I would retain 50% for myself. Note that when the whole documents are ready, it would be your responsibility to approach the bank and make application for the release and transfer of the said funds. If this proposal does offend your moral values please pardon me otherwise reply via my private email address: ricadoportal@live.com. for further clarification. Please be kind to get back
to me if you are not interested so that I can further my search for another partner.

Best Regards

Barrister Ricado Portal

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam