419 scam: "Allen Goldberg"<allengoldberg@attorney.com> UPDATE REQUESTED

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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 pounds" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
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.
- alengb1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Allen Goldberg" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alengb1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:22:48 +0100
Subject: UPDATE REQUESTED

Dear Beneficiary,

I hope ,I meet you and your family in good health.I am Allen Goldberg Personal Assistant to Late Alex .He was a philanthropist,he was also a well respected member of the Freemason. My client left behind unclaimed cash and assets worth over 2.5 Million Pounds .The problem we have had since his death is that we have not been able to locate any of his immediate family members .

An intensive search for an immediate family member of my late client came about when his bank in the United Kingdom sent a fax message to us stating that his account holding funds will be rendered un-serviceable and the funds remitted to the Government of United Kingdom ,if they are not claimed by his family members. It is for
this reason that we have seriously been trying to see if we could locate any of his family members or even a foreigner who bears the same last name with my client ,who can be trusted so that he or she could make this claim ASAP.

Please send immediately your direct and confidential phone and fax number so that I can call you .As his personal Attorney before his death I have the full right and all relevant documents to back you as his next of kin.

I would hate to see those corrupt people go away with this these funds, I want you to keep this transaction confidential ,I wouldn't want a case of misinformation to compromise this issue. You are the only link I've been able to find so far with the last name of my late client and I'll be happy and honoured if you can help in making sure his wealth doesn't go down the drain.

We intend that a percentage of these funds ''if collected by you'' should go into charity work , and the rest appropriately shared amongst us.

Anticipating your swift response.
Allen Goldberg
alengb1@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam