419 scam: "Leonard Morris"<leomo712@gmail.com> CALL ME ASAP +234-805-753 8251

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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "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)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "barrister" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348057538251 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Leonard Morris" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <leom712@discuz.org>
Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 16:30:49 +0100
Subject: CALL ME ASAP +234-805-753 8251

Leonard Morris & Associates
Solicitor at Law
12/15 st louis Street Victoria Island
Lagos Nigeria

Compliments of the day!

This mail may be a surprise to you because you did not give me the permission to do so and neither do you know me but before I tell you about myself I want you to please forgive me for sending the mail without your permission.

I am Barrister Leonard Morris a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. David White, a national of your country who use to work with Shell-development Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 27th January 2002, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a bomb blast at Ikeja Cantonment, which took away their lives.

PLEASE VIEW THESE WEBSITES BELOW TO CONFIRM WHAT I AM TELLING YOU.

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

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his family/relatives hence I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge deposit were lodged. Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account valued at about US$15.5 Million Dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next Twenty one official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 7 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$15.5 million dollars can be paid to you, as the Next of Kin to my deceased client, and then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us conclude this deal.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. please get back to me with the under listed information to enable us proceed immediately.

[1] NAME:.......................
[2] CONTACT ADD:...................
[3] AGE: ..........SEX:.............
[4] TEL.............. FAX:..........
[6] OCCUPATION: ..............
[7] MARITAL STATUS: ..............

You can reach me on my direct telephone number +234-805-753-8251 for further briefings.

Best regards,

Barrister Leonard Morris.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam