419 scam: SOLICITOR?S OFFICE <chevroncompany12@gmail.com> (no subject)

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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 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.
- barrjimleon90@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: SOLICITOR?S OFFICE <chevroncompany12@gmail.com>
Reply-To: barrjimleon90@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:11:55 -0500
Subject:

--

SOLICITOR?S OFFICE
LOT. 165, JALAN PUTRA,
TAMAN TUN RAZAK
MALAYSIA
Email: (barrjimleon90@gmail.com
TEL: +60122473440 OR 01160122473440

I am Jim Leon, an attorney at law. I discovered your email and information
through internet search, I know this sounds like a scam because of lot of
activities going on the internet. But I assure you that this is real.
A deceased
client of mine, that shares the same last name as yours, who died as
the result
of a heart-related condition in March 12th 2005. His heart condition
was due to
the death of all the members of his family in the tsunami disaster on the 26th
December 2004 in Sumatra Indonesia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my
client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank
where this
deposit valued at Eighteen million dollars (US$18million dollars) is lodged.
This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the
account will
be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin
and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so that
the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount
on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to back up
your claim
as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from
many breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your
moral values,
do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to
exercise the
utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential,
whatever your
decision, while I await your prompt response. Please contact me at once to
indicate your interest. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this
e-mail as soon as possible via my private EMAIL (barrjimleon90@gmail.com) and
treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to
your quick
reply.
Best regards,
Jim Leon
Attorney at Law

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam