419 scam: "Peter Brennan"<pbrennan@lawfirm.com> Hello!!

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- +34608637343 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Brennan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <peterbrennan01@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 06:41:09 +0100
Subject: Hello!!

>From the Desk of Barr. Peter Brennan
Carretera De Madrid Km 241'5 N-10
50012 Zaragoza Madrid, Spain.
Tel: 0034-608-637-343

Dear Friend,

Compliments of the day. I am Peter Brennan personal Attorney, solicitor and financial consultant
to late Mr. Richard weir a property magnate and building contractor based here in Madrid, Spain.
On 11th march 2004, my client died in a train bomb attack here in Spain. (Hallmark of al-Qaeda)
which claimed over 190 lives and 1,900 injured. For more information, visit this website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3613775.stm

Late Mr. Richard was a successful and an accomplished Business man who made enough fortune
before his untimely death. He left behind a large deposit in his investment account with
a financial institution here and Since then, I have made several enquiries to locate any
of his extended relatives but this proved unsuccessful.

After all several unsuccessful attempts since it is not compulsory that the next-of-kin must be
a blood relation to the deceased, hence I contacted you.I Have contacted you to assist me in
repatriating this benefit left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank.

The Bank has notified me to provide the next-of-kin to my client to receive its benefit within the
next 21 working days or have the account confiscated. With respect to this effect, I seek your
consent to present you to the Bank as the next of kin to the deceased or inheritor of the fund so
that the proceeds of this deposit valued at 25 Million in United States Currency can be paid to you
and then both of us can be partakers of this benefit. 45% each and 10% will be given to any
orphanage home of your choice.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
us from any breach of law. Please get in touch with me for more details via E-mail
or call:+34-608-637-343

Yours sincerely,
Peter Brennan(Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam