419 scam: "JEAN LAWSON (ESQ)."<jlawsonnl@gmail.com> BEQUEST BENEFICIARY

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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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "JEAN LAWSON (ESQ)." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jlawsonesq@aim.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:50:27 +0200
Subject: BEQUEST BENEFICIARY

Dear Beneficiary,

On behalf of the trustees and executors to the WILL of Late Ms. Rosamond Carr, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter to you through the Postal address was returned undelivered, therefore I now attempt to reach you via your email as it appears to be the next and the only option left unexplored.

Late Ms. Rosamond Carr, made you a beneficiary in her WILL, She left (US$5.000.000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament to her WILL. My client, Ms. Rosamond Carr, a God fearing person, Philanthropist and a founder of Imbabazi Orphanage in the East African nation of Rwanda. She died on the September 29th, 2006 at the age of 94, and her WILL is now ready for execution. In her words, she said that this token is to either support any Charity activities or to encourage you to engage in helping the less privileged.

Please if i reach you as i am hopeful i will, endeavour to get back to me with your full names, address, current telephone/ fax numbers, age, occupation and country of origin to enable me file necessary documents at our high court probate division for the release of the bequest, .

Yours Sincerely,

Jean Lawson (Attorney at Law)
The Netherlands

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam