419 scam: "Barr.Victor Stevens" <333----76543267@att.net> Dear Friend

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "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.Victor Stevens" <333----76543267@att.net>
Reply-To: attorneyvictor_s01@live.com
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 02:36:40 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear Friend

From: Victor Stevens(ESQ)
Victor Stevens & Associates,
Inderpal Rahal Memorial Trust
Garden Court Chambers
57-60 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3LJ

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Victor Stevens of Victor Stevens Chambers & Associates.This email is written and intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF KIN to my Late Client Mr Andreas Schranner from Munich,Germany.He made a fixed Deposit of $5Million United States Dollars only, Mr Andreas Schranner died along with his entire family in July 31 2000 in a plane crash,For more information please visit the website below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

The Governing Body of the Bank where my late client deposited the funds has contacted me on this matter,I desperately need your assistance to secure and claim the funds from the Bank here in London to any Country of your choice,Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent to be presented as the next of Kin so that my late client's fund will not be confiscated by the Bank or to be misused by corrupt government officials. I propose a sharing formula of 60% for me, 40% for you and if you will agree to stand in as the next of kin and have the funds deposited into any account that you will provide.

If you are interested in this transaction then send the below information
1.Your full name
2.Your cellphone number
3.Your age and sex
4.Your occupation
5.Your Country and city

Thank you for your co-operation.
Yours faithfully,
Barrister Victor Stevens

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam