419 scam: "John Hamilton ESQ"<ridgwaybarker@yahoo.co.uk> BEQUEST NOTIFICATION

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- johnhamilton01@inmail24.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Hamilton ESQ" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnhamilton01@inMail24.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 05:03:12 -0800
Subject: BEQUEST NOTIFICATION

Barr. John Hamilton
J.Hamilton & Solicitors
122 Cockfosters Road, London,
EN4 0DA

BEQUEST NOTIFICATION
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Eng Jason Gold,I once again try to notify you
as my earlier letter returned undelivered. Late Eng Jason Gold left the sum of Twenty Five million five
hundred thousand United States Dollars ($25,500.000.00 USD) to you in the codicil and last testament
to his WILL.This may sound unbelievable to you, but it is true. He must have been in contact with you in
the past or you were recommended to him by one of his numerous friends who wished you good.He was a
member of numerous organizations.
Get back to me immediately.

Yours in Service,
John Hamilton ESQ
Email:johnhamilton01@inMail24.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam