419 scam: "BARR. PATRICK BROWN (ESQ)."<info@barrister.com> Re: NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST

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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.

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:
- "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)
- "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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024093879 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- patrick.brown@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARR. PATRICK BROWN (ESQ)." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patrick.brown4@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:54:59 +0200
Subject: Re: NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST

MANAGING PARTNER
P.G. BROWN & SOLICITORS
415 ROYAL LIVER BUILDING,
PIER HEAD, LIVERPOOL L3 1LL, ENGLAND.

Re: NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. Reinhard Hermann,I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter to you returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address on the WILL.

I wish to notify you that Late Engr. Reinhard Hermann made you a beneficiary to his WILL.He left the sum of fourty Seven million five hundred thousand United States Dollars ($47,500.000.00 USD)to you in the codicil and last testament to his WILL.This may sound strange and unbelievable to you,but it is real and true. Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were recommended to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good.

Engr. Reinhard Hermann until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers. He had a very good heart and was a philantropist.His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time.

Late Engr. Reinhard Hermann died on the 13th day of December, 2004. at the age of 80 years, and his WILL is now ready for execution.According to him this money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in your society.

Please if I reach you this time as I am hoping, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant time through the email address below.

Email: patrick.brown@sify.com

Sincerely yours,
BARR. PATRICK BROWN (ESQ).
P.G. BROWN & SOLICITORS
MANAGING PARTNERS/SOLICITORS
Office Line: +44 (702)4093879
(7am to 7pm Mondays Till Saturdays)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam