419 scam: "Barrister Paul Martins." <paulmartinsp@gmail.com> Re:

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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "vpbankzurichoffice@swissmail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
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.
- paulmartinmr@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Paul Martins." <paulmartinsp@gmail.com>
Reply-To: paulmartinmr@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2023 00:15:15 -0700
Subject: Re:

Urgent Attention My Dear, Beneficiary.

We have completed our investigation and you are hereby approved to receive
your fund worth of $8.5M as we have verified the entire transaction to be
Safe and 100% risk free, due to the fact that the funds have been deposited
with VP Bank of Switzerland you will be required to contact directly the VP
Bank in-charge of this transaction.

This is in fulfillment of the promise made to the whole Foreign
Beneficiaries during the just concluded World Economic Summit, in
Zurich-Switzerland, that every Beneficiary will receive his/her outstanding
fund without further delay from VP Bank of Switzerland Group.

In view of this,Your fund has positioned with the VP BANK OF SWITZERLAND to
your account for settlement of indebtedness to you.So,this transaction is
real and legitimate to the best of our knowledge.Consequently, for proper
Accountability/Transparency in this exercise VPBS have set up this office
to make adequate payment recommendation to every legitimate creditor
immediately for on the spot release of your due claims.

You are advised to contact the Head Operation VP Bank Switzerland:

Dr, Mrs. Gabriela Maria Payer
Head Operation VP Bank Switzerland
Email: vpbankzurichoffice@swissmail.com
Telephone: 009-41-435-080-699.

Please contact the above Bank immediately and update me for more
information.

We will consciously appreciate your response and stand towards this matter
of immediate attention.

Help us fight Scam and Terrorism off the face of the earth; the power of
God must prevail over evil.

We anticipate your immediate response.

Take care of yourself and send my greetings to your family.

PLEASE CONTACT Barrister Paul Martins. AT paulmartinmr@yahoo.com.

Thanks
Barrister Paul Martins.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam