419 scam: "BARRISTER ANTONIO LUCAS"<barr_antlucas@yahoo.es> RE: IMPORTANT NOTICE

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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:
- "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. )
- "a security company " (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. )
- "the consignment" (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 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.
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.
- +34676540370 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- barr_antlucas@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER ANTONIO LUCAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr_lucasantonio@yahoo.es>
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:06:31 +1000
Subject: RE: IMPORTANT NOTICE

{LEGAL PRACTISIONER & NOTARIA AGENCIA}
C/Mote lion 37, 1-B 28010,
Madrid, SPAIN.
Tel: +34 676-540 370
Email: barr_antlucas@yahoo.es
ATTENTION: Dear.

Re: Regarding MY CLIENT,

I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was borne out of desperation and current development here in my chamber. Please bear with me.
I am Attorney ANTONIO LUCAS, a solicitor at law here in Madrid, SPAIN. I was The Personal Attorney to late MR. GRAF MAMFRED a national of your country who owned a steel plant here in Spain. He shall hereinafter be referred to as my ´Client`.

On the 11th of March 2004, my client, his Wife and their 2 Children were involved in the Madrid train bomb attack, along Atocha train center. 190 occupants of the train unfortunately lost their lives. For more details, follow the link below: http://www.answers.com/topic/2004-madrid-train-bombings

I know that my client had no living NEXT OF KIN but I went ahead and made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my Clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. I only did so to be double sure of this fact. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, 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 or declared unserviceable by the security company where this deposits were lodged, particularly in a SECURITY COMPANY here in Madrid, Spain where my client deposited the fund valued of about US$15.8 million (Fifteen Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars). This fund will be confiscated after NINE years if not claimed and shall be taken over as since there is no Next of Kin to claim the fund.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 8 years and some months now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since He is from you country and I will inform the security company that you are the beneficiary of the consignment/ fund with the documents of proof to back you up. So that the proceeds of this account valued at US$15.8 million Dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.
I have all necessary legal Documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest disposition and sincere co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law as long as you treat it confidential to yourself since actually you may or may not be the Next of kin to my late client because he did not mention you to me as his relative.

REGARDS,

BA/LLB/LPC ( EUROPEAN LAW)
LEGAL SERVICES
TEL NO:+34-676-540-370

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam