419 scam: "Advocate Thomas Philip"<mrthomasphilip74@gmail.com> RE: READ CAREFULLY PLEASE......!!!-

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Advocate Thomas Philip" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrthomasphilip74@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 12:13:15 -0400
Subject: RE: READ CAREFULLY PLEASE......!!!-

FROM THE DESK OF:

Thomas Philip LAW CHAMBERS

LEGAL SOLICITORS/PRIVATE

56 JALAN RAJA CHULAN

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA.

Attention: Sir/Madam,

My name is Barrister Thomas Philip a personal Attorney to our late client. TAN SRI LIM GOH TONG, who built a hilltop casino in Malaysia (Genting Highland), TAN SRI LIM GOH TONG, a well known Philanthropist. Before he died, he made a Will in our law firm stating that the sum of US$7,500,000.00 (Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) only should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice outside Malaysia {Overseas.}

In accordance with our client's instruction, we have made a random draw and your E-mail Address were picked as the beneficiary to this Will. I am particularly interested in securing this money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to produce the beneficiary of this Will, who happens to be you or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury as per the law of the country.

It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client. You are required to contact us immediately to start the process of transferring this money to any of your designated official bank accounts. I therefore urge you to contact us immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a date limit.

Please contact me urgently for reply to this message immediately stating your details.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Regards

Advocate Thomas Philip.

Attorney-at-Law

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam