419 scam: "Barrister Ben Bruce."<bar.bruce@terra.com> Great Forturn

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (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.
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.
- barben.bruce@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Ben Bruce."<bar.bruce@terra.com>
Reply-To: <barben.bruce@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 07:29:25 +0100
Subject: Great Forturn

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Ben Bruce ,Personal attorney to my late client who is an expatriate contractor with one of the biggest oil servicing company here in Togo. On the 31st of July,2006,My client and his family were involved in a car accident while arriving from a Holiday.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives but was unsuccessful. Since i have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives of my client,I am contacting you to assist me in claiming the sum of US$13.5 million which my late client deposited with a bank here in Togo,since both of you BEAR the SAME LAST NAME.

The Bank has issued me a notice to provide my late client's next of kin/relation or they will have the deposit funds confiscated if i fail to provide any.It is standard practice that after the expiration of a specified period,The said fund will be automatically confiscated and transfer to the Bank treasury as unclaimed bill if there is nobody to file in claim as the next of kin/relation to the deceased and the account will be closed.

Thanks
Barrister Ben Bruce.
Skype Name : ben.bruce.chambers
Equity and Justice Chambers
www.equity-chambers.net
Lome, Togo.
Email: barben.bruce@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam