419 scam: "Attorney"<wis@lawyer.com> FROM THE DESK OF SOLICITOR KEN MURPHY

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "mobilization fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- kenmuphyofficedesk@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Attorney"<wis@lawyer.com>
Reply-To: <kenmuphyofficedesk@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:20:59 +0100
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF SOLICITOR KEN MURPHY

BARRISTER (PROF) KEN MURPHY (ESQ)
Senior Advocate, International Legal Practitioner Wisdom Chamber's
Lagos Nigeria
Email: kenmuphyofficedesk@yahoo.co.jp

FROM THE DESK OF SOLICITOR KEN MURPHY.
WISDOM CHAMBERS.
LOCATED AT NO_,
9B,AWOLOWO ROAD,
S.W VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS-NIGERIA,

Good day,

I am sorry for contacting you through this medium without a previous notice, I had to use E-mail because it is an easier and more confidential way of making contact with people around the world. My name is Barrister KEN MURPHY , Fifty (50) years old Attorney here in NIGERIA.I had a client by Name Engr. Hassan Kumar Mohd, who is a national of your country and contractor based here in NIGERIA now deceased. My client lost his life alongside his wife and only child on the 27th of January 2003 while he was traveling. Details of this incidence can be checked on the following website;

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm>
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm>

Prior to the Death of my Late Client, He secured a contract of $17,500,000.00 million from the Federal Government of Nigeria, following which he received a 30% mobilization fee of US$5,750,000.00 Million and successfully executed the contract, but the balance of US$11,750,000.00 Million contract payment was in the Process of being transferred into My Late Client's Account with a Finance firm which he submitted to the Federal Government OF NIGERIA before he lost his life in the incidence.

Three Months after his sudden Death, The Federal Government of Nigeria effected the transfer of the balance of his Contract Funds into the Account that My Late Client has on his file with the Government. As his personal Attorney before his death, I have been officially notified and instructed by the FINANCE FIRM where the money is currently deposited that I should provide and forward the particulars of Engr. Hassan Inheritor so that the Funds in his Account can be remitted into his Inheritor's Account in accordance with Nigerian Laws.

However, as the personal attorney and close confidant of late Engr. Hassan , I want you to know that My late Client died interstate, i.e., He died without leaving a Will. Hence, all my efforts to locate any of his relative whom I can present to the Bank as his inheritor/heir has proved aborted.

Therefore I am seeking for your consent to present you as the deceased relative/heir and subsequently the beneficiary of the fund so that the proceed of this account valued at $11,750,000.00 Million can be paid to you for subsequent disbursement between you and I. If you can cooperate with me and receive this fund as the inheritor to late Engr.Hassan , confirm your interest by contacting me through my confidential email above. I can assure you that the deal is 100% risk free because I am in possession of the deceased personal file which contains all information which I shall use to prove your relationship with the deceased therefore the money will be paid into the account of whomever I present as LATE Engr. Hassan , as the inheritor with proofs that I will present to the bank legally.

When I receive a positive response and after proper discussion with you, I will furnish you with all the relevant information that will facilitate the release of the Funds to you An Application will have to be filed to the Bank for processing of the release of the Funds into your nominated Bank account any where in the world. Please do send the following information of yours so that we can get started with this mutual business transaction.

1. Your full legal names
2. Your reachable Phone number.
3. Your domicile Address.

Your immediate reply to the below email: kenmuphyofficedesk@yahoo.co.jp
will be highly appreciated.

Truly yours,
BARR KEN MURPHY

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam