419 scam: "Barnes, David L" <DBARNES@wilbursmith.com> Write me soon.

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- kkeung1ccheng@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- work with me, contact me through this email account: kkeung1ccheng@yahoo.com.hk if you give me positive signals, i will initiate this (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barnes, David L" <DBARNES@wilbursmith.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 16:31:56 -0500
Subject: Write me soon.

Write me soon.

Dear Sir/Madam,

This communication is in reference to an investment opportunity involving an Iraqi that made a fixed deposit at my Bank.
He had a financial portfolio of $31,500,000.00 and this I help turned over in the purchase of securities in the capital markets. I was the bank adviser assisting the customer in the management of the fund. Been previously given the instruction to liquidate the investment made by this customer after sometime to enable the customer pursue some other investment requiring cash payment in Europe, I made effort to contact the customer in the line of duty for some final instruction only to discover that the customer had been killed along other members of his family.
Since the original owner died along with the supposed next of kin, my proposition is this; I am prepared to place you in a position to instruct my Bank to release the deposit to you as the closest surviving relation. For your cooperation I am prepare to share the deposit with you.
If you find yourself able to work with me, contact me through this email account: kkeung1ccheng@yahoo.com.hk
If you give me positive signals, I will initiate this process towards conclusion.
Regards,

Mr. Cheng Keung

Email: keung1ccheng@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam