419 scam: "Barrister Destine Igho"<contact@solicitor.com> Attn: From The Chember Of Barrister Destine Igho

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Destine Igho" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mona_hudd@konin.lm.pl>
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:29:32 +0800
Subject: Attn: From The Chember Of Barrister Destine Igho

DESTINE CHAMBERS & ASSOCIATES.
PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY & SOLICITORS.

Dear Friend ,

I would like to seek your help in a business proposal which although is sensitive by nature and not what I should discuss with someone I don¡¯t know and have not met using a medium such as this but I do not have a choice .

I am Barrister Destine Igho, a solicitor at law and a personal attorney to late .Mr. Kenneth, who used to work with Delta Oil-development Company, whom here as been referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2005, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident and all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives and all effort proved abortive.

I am contacting 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 35 million dollars and the finance company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for some years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to my client, so that the proceeds of this account valued at 35 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can do something good with the money. 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 see this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by my email and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss
further about this transaction.

Please Reply to this my private mail address: mona_hudd@konin.lm.pl

Best regards,

Barr. Destine

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam