419 scam: "David"<dgrant@w.cn> JOINT ENTERPRISE

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kwamegrant2@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2011 06:29:22 -0400
Subject: JOINT ENTERPRISE

Barrister David Grant wrote: THIS INFORMATION IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE PERSON OR ENTITY TO WHICH IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR PREVILEGED MATERIAL. ANY REVIEW, RETRANSMISSION, DISEMINATION, OR OTHER USE OF OR TAKING OF ANY ACTION IN RELIANCE UPON THIS INFORMATION BY PERSONS OR ENTITIES OTHER THAN THE INTENDED RECIPIENT IS PROHIBITED. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS IN ERROR, PLEASE DELETE THE COPY. THANK YOU.

BARRISTER DAVID GRANT
TEMPLES CHAMBERS (ATTORNEY AT LAW)
Plot 2A PARKLANE AVENUE, ACCRA GHANA.
I am Barrister David Grant, a Solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Mark Lowry , a national of your Country who was a Seasoned Contractor with Shell Petroleum development Company BP Ghana. who unfortunately died in the plane Crash of Union Transport Africaines Flight Boeing 727 in Cotonou, Benin republic on the December 25, 2003.
You will read more stories about the crash on visiting this website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact 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 Company where these huge deposits were lodge.
The deceased had an account valued at about fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$15.5M) deposited at the Security Company, The Security Company has issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin or have the account confiscated within the next few months.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over sometime 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 (USD15.5M) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money as following, 60% will be for me, while 30% will be for you and 10% his set aside for any expenses we might incur during the course of this transaction.
My chambers will procure all necessary legal documents that will be used to back up the claim .
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction to his logical conclusion . I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law now and in the future.
I await your urgent response through my private e-mail address: dgrant@w.cn

Best Regards,

David Grant
(dgrant@w.cn)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam