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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "keep it confidential" (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.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "francisgoodmanchambers@lawyer.com" <james@mail.zzzip.net>
Reply-To: francis_goodman@oi.com.br
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:10:09 -0400
Subject: Hello Friend/ Urgent Please




Dear Friend

I presume this letter will come to you as a surprise,but as things unfold,we will know each other better.I will start by

introducing myself to you.My name is Barrister Francis Goodman a solicitor at law.



I am writing in respect of a foreigner Mr Richard Burson,who happens to be my client an oil merchant and contractor who

perished in a plane crash of 31st October 1999[WITH EGYPTIAN AIRLINE 990] with other passengers aboard .



http://www.cnn.com/US/9910/31/egyptair.03/



Since the demise of my client I personally have searched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved

abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of US$28.5m(Twenty Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollar)

and all the relevant documents in the bank has no record of any next of kin. On this note, I decided to seek for whom his

name shall be used as his next of kin so I have contacted you to assist in repatriating most especially, the money left

behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where the huge deposits were lodged.



Particularly, the Equity Development Bank Plc where the deceased had an account valued at about Usd28.5 million dollars has

issued me a notice to provide the Next of kin, or have the account confiscated.



I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased,I need somebody who is trustworthy and willing to

assist me get the funds transfered.Whcih the account which my late client operate is valued at Usd28.5 million dollars can be

paid to you, as my clients Next of Kin, and then we can share the amount on a mutual agreed percentage.



All legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin will be provided. All I require is your honest

cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will

protect you from any breach of the law and you should endeavor to keep it confidential.



Please get in touch with me (francis_goodman@oi.com.br) at to enable us discuss further about this transaction.



Regards,
Francis Goodman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam