419 scam: "BARR.CHARLES RUSSELLS" <info@chambers.co.uk> LATE SIR. JOHN PAUL GETTY'S WILL

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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr.charlesrussell@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "barr.charlesrussell@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +447024066538 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARR.CHARLES RUSSELLS" <info@chambers.co.uk>
Reply-To: barr.charlesrussell@live.com
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:33:31 -0200
Subject: LATE SIR. JOHN PAUL GETTY'S WILL

Charles Russell LLP
London Office St James's (London)
8 - 10 New Fetter Lane,
London, EC4A 1RS, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 702 406 6538
E-mail:barr.charlesrussell@live.com

SUB: LATE SIR. JOHN PAUL GETTY'S WILL

On behalf of the Trustees and Executors of the late British Philanthropist,
Sir John Paul Getty Jr.,I once again try to notify you as our email to you
was returned as a failure delivery (undelivered), hence I hereby attempt to
reach you via your e-mail address.

I wish to notify you that the late Sir J. Paul Getty Jr. made you one of the
beneficiaries to his (WILL), he bequeathed the sum of Nine Million Seven
Hundred and Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Ninety Two Great British Pounds
Sterlings Only (GBP£9,708,692.7) to you in the codicil and last testament to
his (WILL) which is eleven (11%) of his total funds of GBP£88,260,443.00
(Eighty Eight Million Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and Forty
Three Great British Pounds Sterling deposited with one of UK's biggest
financial institution.

This may sound very strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.
Being a widely popular traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in
the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends
here or abroad who wished you well. Sir J. Paul Getty Jr., the reclusive
American-born philanthropist was the third son of the first American oil
billionaire, billionaire American oilman Jean, Paul Getty.

According to him this money is to support religious and humanitarian
activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society. Please if I
reach you as I am hopeful, 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. Please
forward your response to barr.charlesrussell@live.com for immediate attention.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours in services,
Barr. Charles Russell
Charles Russell LLP

Partners: Barr. Simon Gilbert, Barr. John Walters, Barr. Susan McDonalds and
Barr. Catherine Wright Attorney at Law.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam