419 scam: "John Pitman"<Ali.marquis@lechamarel.gg> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

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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:
- "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)
- "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)
- "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "John Pitman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <john_pit01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:27:36 -0700
Subject: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Hello,

I am John Pitman, solicitor and the private Attorney to Late Andreas
Schranner. A Germany property Magnate, Andreas Schranner, 64, his wife
Maria, 62, their daughter Andrea Eich, 38, her husband Christian, 57, and
their children Katharina, eight, and Maximilian, 10, all perished in the
jet.
Please click here below for verification.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

until his death has an account with a bank here with a closing balance of
(us$15m) fifteen Million Dollars and since his death nobody has come up to
claim this money from this bank. Since then I have made several enquiries
to locate any of my client's relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you.

The main reason why I have contacted you is for you to assist in
repatriating the money and properties left behind by my client before they
get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance Company where
this huge deposits were lodged, this bank where my late client had this
account valued at about (us$15m) fifteen Million Dollars has issued me a
notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated. Since I
have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years, so I
seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so
that the proceeds of this account valued at (us$15m) fifteen Million
Dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 50%
for me and 40% for you and 10% will be used for any expenses that this
might cost on the process of this transaction.
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim
we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see
this deal through. I guarantee that this transaction will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
the law. It is 100% risk-free.
Waiting for your respond

Best regards,

John Pitman

Anti-fraud resources:

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