419 scam: "From: Barr. Vincent Tay" <sussan.monica@rediffmail.com> PLEASE YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED

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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:
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (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.
- barrvincenttay@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "From: Barr. Vincent Tay" <sussan.monica@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: barrvincenttay@sify.com
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:35:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: PLEASE YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED

From:
Barr. Vincent Tay

Email:
barrvincenttay@sify.com

Greetings,

I
am Barrister Vincent Tay, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine who
shares the same last name as yours, died as the result of a heart related
condition on 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
contact you to assist in receipt of this money left behind by my late client
before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the finance house where
this deposit valued at US$19Million Dollars, is lodged.

My
proposition to you is to seek your permission by presenting you as the next-of
-kin and beneficiary of my deceased client, to present you as the next-of-kin
and beneficiary of my late client, so that the proceeds of this account can be
paid through you.

I
can be reached on (barrvincenttay@sify.com) for
more information. My late Client has a deposit of Nineteen Million Dollars
(US$19 Million Dollars) left behind.

Best
regards,

Barr.
Vincent Tay

Attorney
at Law

Email:
barrvincenttay@sify.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam