419 scam: "Barrister Johnny Lau"<green@zdcy.cn> Re: Here is the deal! (must read)

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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:
- "million us 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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Johnny Lau" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerjohnnylau@yeah.net>
Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2012 21:53:54 -0800
Subject: Re: Here is the deal! (must read)

Reply to: barristerjohnnylau@yeah.net

Dear Partner,

I recieved your email in good faith however this proposition is highly confidential and should be treated as such. My client named Mr. Roger Hankinson, age 67 years and a nationality of the United Kingdom, businessman and philantropist died along with his wife and kids in the Tsunami disaster while on vacation in Phucket beach Thailand.

Mr. Hankinson was an industrialist in both Hongkong, Thailand and China. As his attorney the bank in Philippines has approached me to present them with details of his next of kin to assist claim the deposited sum of 26m USD (Twenty-Six Million US Dollars). I have waited for seven (7) years without any response from family members which indicates that the next of kin must have died in the disaster too.

I sought your co-operation to claim this deposited funds meaning that I will simply nominate you as the the closest surviving relation/next of kin to Mr. Hankinson. My reason for this is that the fund still remains unclaimed in the bank and according to practice, the bank will by the end of this financial year broadcast a request for statements of claim to World Bank, failing to receive viable claims they will most probably revert the deposit back to the World Bank. This will result in the money entering the World Bank accounting system and the portfolio will be out of my hands and out of the banking system in the Philippines where I am recognized as the attorney of the late Mr. Roger Hankinson.

I would have gone ahead to ask the funds be released to me, but that would have drawn a straight line to me and my involvement in claiming the deposit. In other to achieve this, I will be representing you (beneficiary) as your legal adviser and handling all legal procedures. The Sharing arrangement is 30% for you and 70% for me. If you are ready to assist me on this deal, send me your response immediately to enable us initiate this process towards a conclusion.

Awaiting your response.

Barrister Johnny lau
email; barristerjohnnylau@yeah.net

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam