419 scam: "MRS VICTORIA LEE"<victoria@lee.com> Attention: Sir/Madam,

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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:
- "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.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- +447031959425 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- falana_o@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- berry arden chambers 2 john st.london wc1n 2es . e-mail: falana_o@lawyer.com phone: +447031959425 please ensure that you (Lawyer; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS VICTORIA LEE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <victorialee48@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 14:32:22 +0100
Subject: Attention: Sir/Madam,

Attention: Sir/Madam...Urgent,

My name is Mrs. Victoria Lee; I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to you/church. I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer for about two years, immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of God, rather than allow my relatives to use my husband hard earned funds ungodly.

Please pray that the good Lord forgive me my sins. I have asked God to forgive me and I believe He has because He is a merciful God. I will be going in for an operation in less than a month and I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $20.000,000 Million (Twenty million Dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows.

At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls due to the fact that my relatives are around me and my health status. I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware I have changed my WILL. If you are a Godly person, please contact my lawyer and he will arrange the transfer of the funds from my account to your preferred account. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and PLEASE use the funds well and always extend the good work to others.

Pls. Contact my lawyer, Anthony Berry, with the specified email address-:

CHAMBERS OF ARDENS

Barrister Anthony Berry

Arden Chambers 2 John St.London WC1N 2ES .

E-Mail: falana_o@lawyer.com

Phone: +447031959425

Please ensure that you copy this correspondence to his email address above.

Please tell him that I have asked you to reach him.

Goodluck in all your future endeavors!

Thanks,

Mrs.Victoria Lee

Cc: Barrister John Fairheart

NB: This is my alternative email address(victorialee48@hotmail.co.uk )

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam