419 scam: "Barrister Smith. Walker"<smithwalker66@tlen.pl> I am waiting your urgent reply......

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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:
- "dear friend" (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. )
- "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 pounds" (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)
- "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- smithwa214@tlen.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Smith. Walker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smithwa214@go2.pl>
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 11:25:05 +0100
Subject: I am waiting your urgent reply......

Dear friend

I am Barrister S. Walker, a solicitor. Am the personal attorney to my late client Engr JB ,A national of your country, who used to Work with Shell Petroleum Company here in Rep of Benin after shall be referred to as my client. In 2003, my client, his wife and their two children were involved in a plane crash in a village called Adjarra near Porto Novou after take off from Cotonou in Benin Republic. It was unfortunate that my client and his family all lost their lives in the crash. For more on the plane crash log on to http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-12/26/content_293549.htm
since then I have made several enquiries in Cotonou and Porto Novou to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track search with his last name to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated, frozen or declared unserviceable by the deposit security company where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly where the deceased had a valued at about 10.5 Million pounds Only (Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand pounds Only)
The Management has issued me a notice to provide the next Of kin or have the account frozen within the next twenty one Official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years now i seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased, so that the proceeds of the 10.5M can be paid to you and both of us will share the money.
I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. And this I must do to make sure that this fund is not wasted or end up in the wrong hands. All I require is your honesty, co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. I am waiting your urgent reply.

I have a new email address!
You can now email me at: smithwa214@tlen.pl

Yours faithfully

Barrister Smith walker

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam