419 scam: "Mr Steve Clarke"<uninfo@hotmail.com> From Mr Steve Clarke (Esq.)

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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.

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +447092897655 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447092987779 (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.
- mr.steveclarke@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Steve Clarke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.steveclarke@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 13:28:12 -0800
Subject: From Mr Steve Clarke (Esq.)

Steve Clarke (Esq.)
Southend Road, Hornchurch, London RM13 7XU
United Kingdom.
Phone:+447092897655 Fax: +447092987779

Dear Friend

This is a personal letter directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I must solicit your Confidentiality and assure you that I am contacting you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Steve Clarke, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney/sole executor to the late Mr. Robert,LAST NAME WILL BE DISCLOSED UPON RESPONSE. hereinafter referred to as my client who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country. He died in a car crash with his immediate family in East London on the 5th of November 2005.My late client, a former Sub-Comptroller working with Chevron Texaco Oil here in the United Kingdom, had Left behind a deposit of Seventeen Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only ($17.8million) with a bank. After the death of my client, the bank contacted me being his attorney to provide his Next of kin who will inherit his fortune and this according to them is their policy in such circumstances. Since the death of my client, I have written several l

However I have reasoned very professionally and I can use a legal means to present a next of kin of my deceased client. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws of the land. On this note I decided to search for a credible person and finding that you bear a similar last name, I decided to contact you, that I may, with your consent present you to the "Trustees" as my late client's family member, so as to enable you put up a claim to the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client. I find this possible for the reasons that you are of the same nationality and you bear a similar last name with my late client making it a lot easier for you to put up a claim in that capacity. I have all vital documents that would confer you the legal right to make this claim and would make them available to you so that the proceeds of this bank account valued at $17.8million can be paid to you before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where this huge amount is lodged. I
Like I said, I require solemn confidentiality on this. Please get in touch with me by email: mr.steveclarke@aol.com for better confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further on this transaction. My contact FAX number is +44709 298 7779. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you,

Thanks for your understanding.
Kind Regards,

Steve Clarke
Phone: +44 709 289 7655
Email: mr.steveclarke@aol.com

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