419 scam: "Ted Stephen" <tedstephen@davidclark-inc.net> FROM BARRISTER TED

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "ted.attorneys@gmx.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +27786348317 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ted Stephen" <tedstephen@davidclark-inc.net>
Reply-To: tadstephen@gmx.com
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:56:29 +0300
Subject: FROM BARRISTER TED

Dear Sir/Madam,

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL!

Compliments of the day to you; I know we have not met before, but this
calls for an emergency which gives me no room for much protocol.

My name is Mr. Mr. Ted Stephen(Esq.) a Barrister/solicitor. There is a
client of mine who just passed away (Died) few days ago. He is from
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and former Chairman of Mineral
Resources.

He deposited a substantial sum of money to the value of $18.6M USD
(Eighteen Million Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only) in a
confided Security Company here in South Africa. After my investigation and
enquiry, I discovered that he did not disclose his next of kin to claim
this fund.

I have in my custody all the documents that cover this fund which I will
immediately use your name and Company’s details to replace as the next of
kin.

Then I will go on to tender the document(s) to the Security Company for
the immediate release of the fund in your name. Thus to make this
effective, I require that you forward to me your following details:
(a)Your full name......................
(b) Your company name and address......................
(c)Personal Fax and Phone number.................................

I will give the details so given to my contact who works with the security
company to use it and place as the Next of Kin to my late client in their
Company’s database, while I wait for your soonest arrival for completion
and endorsement of the release order from the security company.

Further correspondences should be forwarded to me via: ted.attorneys@gmx.com
Barrister/Solicitor Mr. Ted Stephen
87 6th Street
Parkhurst, Johannesburg 2193
South Africa
Tel:+27 78 634 8317
Tel/Fax:27 (0)86 664 4791 After this procedure, we will move the fund to
the Bank for onward transfer to your designated account outside South
Africa.
Please maintain absolute secrecy and confidentiality of this message. If
you are not capable of handling this transaction, do not disclose it to
any other person.

We will discuss on percentage sharing when you respond to this mail.
Thanks and Regards,
Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Ted Stephen
South Africa.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam