419 scam: "John Billy Elena" <ubabnky@live.fr> Hello Dear Partner,

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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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (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.
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.
- +22968221191 (Benin, probably a 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.
- barrister_johnbiily@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- urgently; here is my private email address: barrister_johnbiily@yahoo.com yours sincerely, john billy elena barrister, solicitor & (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Billy Elena" <ubabnky@live.fr>
Reply-To: barrister_johnbiily@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 02:30:20 +0800
Subject: Hello Dear Partner,

Hello Dear Partner,

CAN I TRUST YOU WITH $14.8 MILLION USD ?
Please treat this message with every seriousness and confidentiality my name
is John Billy Elena, I'm the Principal Attorney for Goshen Chamber and private
lawyer to late Engineer Alan Jackman your country's National and Civil
Engineer/Contractor who worked with the Asturiana DE Zinc S.A. in Spain for
thirteen years.
On 11th March 2004, my client lost his life alongside his wife, daughter and
several others in the tragic terrorist bomb blast in Madrid, Spain .Please
visit this webpage http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3500452.stm for a detailed
information on the incident.

Before My Client's death, he owned and operated an account valued at $14.800,
000, 00 USD (Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
with a bank here in Benin Republic. Ever since then, as the family Attorney
and friend I have made several inquires to locate any of my client's extended
relatives but this has proved unsuccessful.

This afternoon, the bank issued me another notice (the third and final) to
provide his relative or have the account confiscated within the next 10 bank
working days. As I have been unsuccessful in locating his immediate relatives
for over 6 years, I hereby seek your consent in order to present you to the
bank as a distant relative to the deceased, the proceeds of this account shall
be transferred to any of your nominated bank account for us to share 45% for
you, 45% for me and 10% for any expenses or taxes as your home Government may
require

All I require is your honest cooperation and I guarantee that this will be
executed under a legal and legitimate arrangement that will protect us from
any breach of the law in the near or distant future. I have a reputation as a
seasoned Attorney to protect and will not allow any loopholes in this transaction.
This transaction is 100% risk free as I have every document/information and
will arrange any other document that will assist your/our claims in order to
facilitate the release of the funds to you/us
Please carefully go through this proposal line by line and if you have
honestly made up your mind to partner with me, kindly reply via my below
private email or fax with your full names, address and private telephone
number as soon as you receive this message. Please be free to ask any questions.

I await your sincere response urgently; here is my private email address:
barrister_johnbiily@yahoo.com
Yours sincerely,
John Billy Elena
Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public
Goshen Chamber
Pau, U22, No 367, Unite Vain Parcelles Porto-Nove Benin.

Cell: +229-6822-1191

E-mail.barrister_johnbiily@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam