419 scam: Barr Jerry Martins <jerry.martins1@live.com> HELLO: URGENT UPDATE?

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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:
- "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: Barr Jerry Martins <jerry.martins1@live.com>
Reply-To: js8278@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:37:41 +0330
Subject: HELLO: URGENT UPDATE?

FROM: THE DESK OF BARRISTER.JERRY MARTINS
CHAMBERS AND SOLICITORS
130 BANK ANTHONY GRA ACCRA GHANA.

Dear Partner,

Good day, firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency and importance of the information.

I humbly crave your indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness of purpose because this project is based on Trust,confidentiality and sincerity of purpose in order to have an acceptable meeting of the minds. I am a fifty two(52)years old established lawyer.

My name is Mr. Jerry Martins,a solicitor and personal attorney to an expatriate and a consultant with an American Oil company,PENNZOIL (Now deceased) He died in the Tsunami disaster on 26th December 2004 while on vacation in Thailand.Six years ago, My Client successfully executed a contract for the Federal Government of Ghana worth US$18.3 million dollars.

A part payment of USD9.million dollars was paid to my client, while the balance of USD9.3 million Dollars was still unpaid before my client died in the Indian Ocean Tsunami disa NOW THE CRUX OF THIS E-LETTER is that the new elected Government Of Ghana is fully paying all foreign Contractors who have successfully executed their contracts and my client is among those benefited in this first quarter payment schedule which has already been deposited in his bank.

As his personal attorney/Adviser, his bank has officially notified and instructed me to forward particulars of my client's next of kin within the next 14 official working days so that he/she can be paid the outstanding USD9.3 Million dollars otherwise his payment will be diverted to the government coffers account as unclaimed bill.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating any of his relatives, I decided to contact you for a deal so that we can work together as a team to remit the money to your account as my client next of kin since I do not want to seat and watch my client hard earned entitlement to go astray,it will be easy for us to achieve because you are of the same name and country like him.

Although I know that a transaction of this magnitude might make anyone apprehensive but I would like to assure you that I am proposing this project to you with the best of intentions. As a lawyer, I have the power to secure all the necessary legal documents that will be used for this claim.

All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through.

I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a Legitimate banking arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.

Upon successful conclusion of this project,you will be compensated with 40% of the total fund,while 60% will be for me.

I await your urgent reply with your personal telephone/fax number for effective communication and oral clarification on how to proceed next.
Sincerely yours,

Mr.Jerry Martins.
Legal Adviser

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