419 scam: "Barrister Fred Walla <barfredwall"@gmx.com> Re: Your cooperation 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:

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)
- "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. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barfredwalla@gmx.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +447024083607 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Fred Walla <barfredwall"@gmx.com>
Reply-To: barfredwalla@gmx.com
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2015 13:58:41 +0100
Subject: Re: Your cooperation needed

Dear Sir/Madam, I am Barrister Fredrick WALLA a solicitor at law. I am the =
personal attorney to Mr. Mark Richardson a national of your country, who us=
ed to work with Shell - Development Company here in London UK. Here in afte=
r shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2013, my client, =
his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident. All occu=
pants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made=
several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended rel=
atives. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track Citiz=
ens of his country over the Internet, to locate any member of his family he=
nce I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the mon=
ey and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or dec=
lared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Part=
icularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account valued at a=
bout USD$6.8 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of =
kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working da=
ys. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 yea=
rs now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the decease=
d so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD$ 6.8 million dollars c=
an be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and 40=
% to you I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up a=
ny claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us=
complete this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a=
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. P=
lease get in touch with me by my email and send to me your telephone and fa=
x numbers to enable us discuss further about this transaction. Best regards=
, Barrister Fredrick WALLA WALLA=92S council Solicitor at Law, Estates Atto=
rney London, UK Phone: +44 702 408 3607 Email: barfredwalla@gmx.com
--=20
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