419 scam: "Mrs. Elena Tan"<con-margroup@bellnet.ca> Kindly Contact my lawyer

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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:
- ",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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- barr.rlee07@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Elena Tan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr.rlee07@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:20:43 -0800
Subject: Kindly Contact my lawyer

Hello ,

My name is Mrs. Elena Tan; I was diagnosed of cancer about 2 years ago. I
will be going in for an operation, and i pray that i survive the operation.
I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,500,000.00.(Ten million five
hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and to help
the motherless, less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows,
I have informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund to you. if
you are interested in carrying out this task in good faith and trustworthiness.

Kindly Contact my lawyer through this email address
(barr.rlee07@yahoo.com.hk) or you can call his private Lin:
+855976826769. If you are interested in carrying out this task, so that he
can arrange the release of the funds ($10,500,000.00) to you. My lawyer's
name is Barrister Richard Lee . I know I have never met you but my mind
tells me to do this, and i hope you act sincerely.

Thank you and God bless you. Mrs. Elena Tan.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam