419 scam: "Barr.John Paul"<wm91044@gmail.com> BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP NEEDED

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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:
- "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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +22967917242 (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.
- johnpaul@pisem.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr.John Paul" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnpaul@pisem.net>
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 17:06:48 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP NEEDED

John Paul & Co Chambers
Solicitors & Advocates.
Cotonou - Benin Republic.
Tel:+229-67917242

My name is Barr. John Paul, I am a citizen of Republic of Benin in West African region. I am writing for the following opportunity in my office that will be of immense benefit to both of us. I am the personal attorney to late Mr.Daniel Smirnov from Russia who was a senior staff of RCC construction company, he died on November 17 2011 in auto crash.

My client had an account with DIAMOND BANK here in Cotonou Benin valued at $21.7M USD (Twenty One Million seven hundred thousand united states dollars)I made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives in Russia since after his death, All my efforts to locate any of his relatives proved unsuccessful.

Recently, the bank has issued me a notice to provide his next of kin who will claim his funds or have his account confiscated and divert the funds to federal Reserve bank,Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased,so that the bank can release the money to you as the next of kin to the deceased customer, This money has been dormant for years in the Bank without claim,and I don't want the money to go into the Federal Reserve Bank of Benin(FRBB) as unclaimed funds.

Please I would like you to keep this transfer as a top secret between me and you alone ok, I have all the necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for the claim. All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Thanks as I am looking forward to read your positive response to my private email: johnpaul@pisem.net

Yours Faithfully,
Barr.John Paul.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam