419 scam: Brian Casey <casybrian17@msn.com> Dear friend.

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Brian Casey <casybrian17@msn.com>
Reply-To: <briancsey@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:48:23 +0000
Subject: Dear friend.

Dear Friend,
I am Brian Casey(Lawyer).I am the personal attorney/sole executor to the "WILL" of a late client who worked as an independent oil Business magnate in my country and who died in a car Crash with his immediate family on the 5th of Nov 2004. Since the death of my client in Nov, 2004, I have written several letters to his embassy with intent to locate any of his extended relatives who could be Beneficiaries of his abandoned Funds and all such efforts have been to no avail.Furthermore,I want you to know that your little Fianancial assistances will be needed in moving this Fund abroad for Investment Purposes.
$B!!(B
After the transaction has been accomplished 40% will be for the person involved,10% for Charity work,and remaining 50% for me. Please if you feel interested,I crave your indulgence to please contact me. As I have said earlier, I want you to know that this is the present situation now. All I need is your little Fianacial assistance and support so that we can both Carry out this project.And whatsoever your expenses on this transaction will be paid back to you as soon as the Fund is transfered to your norminated bank Account in your Country.
I have decided to contact you so that we can talk and see how we can both put heads together and achieve a good result.
On this note, I wish to present you to the finance company, as the surviving relative to the deceased so that we can put in claims for payment with your name as the sole beneficiary of his "Will".

I will appreciate if you can send me the following,
1. Full Names:
2. Tel. and fax numbers(for rapid communications):
3. Your age:
4. Occupation:
5. Your Current address:

This will enable me obtain necessary legal documents at our High Court Probate for the release of the fund of money in your favour.
$B!!(B
I intend to invest my shares in your country under your management in any viable business venture.
I will send you more details as soon as I hear from you.

Yours faithfully,
Brian Casey(Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam