419 scam: "MATHEW YOUNG"<linkexchange@90minute.co.uk> TREAT THIS AS URGENT

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "huge amount of money" (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.)
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.
- barristersatbankhouse@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MATHEW YOUNG" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristersatbankhouse@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 18:00:51 +0300
Subject: TREAT THIS AS URGENT

DEAR SIR/MADAM, RE:HTTP//WWW.CNN.COM/2005/WORLD/AFRICA/10/23/OBASANJO.OBITUARY/INDEX.HTML -------------------------------------------------------------------.--- I AM BARRISTER MATHEW YOUNG, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY TO THE LATE MRS.STELLA OBASANJO,WIFE OF THE FORMER NIGERIAN PRESIDENT WHO DIED ON SUNDAY,23RD OCTOBER,2005 IN A HOSPITAL IN SPAIN.SHE HAD TRAVELED TO SPAIN TO UNDERGO SURGERY AND CONSEQUENTLY DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS RESULTING FROM THAT SURGERY. AS A PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO THE DECEASED,I HANDLED EVERY OF HER AFFAIRS, MOSTLY PROPERTIES AND FUNDS BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL.IN THIS CASE,MY CLIENT,MRS.STELLA OBASANJO HAD LEFT HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN MILLIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DOLLARS AND BRITISH POUNDS STERLINGS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS WITH MY SIGNATURES. VERY SOON, MY CLIENT'S EXTENDED FAMILY WILL CALL ME TO ACCOUNT FOR MY CLIENT'S PROPERTIES AND FUNDS SINCE MY CLIENT HAD ONLY ONE SON FOR MR.PRESIDENT. AT THIS JUNCTURE,I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE BENEFICARY TO MY CLIENT'S FUNDS DEPOSITED IN EUROPE AND OTHER WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES WHICH I WILL DISCLOSE TO YOU SINCE I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE DEPOSITING OF THE FUNDS.I WILL PROCURE ALL THE NECESSARY LEGAL DOCUMENTATIONS THAT CAN BE USED TO BACK UP ANY CLAIM WE MIGHT MAKE. ALL I REQUIRE IS YOUR HONEST 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.I PROMISE THAT,YOU AND I CAN SHARE THIS MONEY IN THE RATIO OF 50% FOR ME,40% FOR YOU AND 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR ANY EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSATIONS.ALSO,I WILL INVEST MY OWN SHARE IN ANY HIGH YIELD INVESTMENT PROGRAMME IN YOUR COUNTRY UNDER YOUR GUIDANCE AND SUPERVISION.PLEASE,FORWARD YOUR RESPONSE TO REACH ME IMMEDIATELY AT: barristersatbankhouse@yahoo.com I BELIEVE THIS LETTER RECEIVED A FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION FROM YOU AS I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BEST REGARDS, MATHEW YOUNG.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam