419 scam: "Barr Bernard Harry" <info@yahoo.co.uk> GOOD DAY dear Sir/madam

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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.)
- "harrylawfirm@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr Bernard Harry" <info@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: harrylawfirm@w.cn
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:29:29 +0800
Subject: GOOD DAY dear Sir/madam

FROM BARRISTER BERNARD HARRY,
HARRY LAW FIRM AND ASSOCIATES
PUBLIC NOTARY SOLICITORS &ADVOCATE
NO:12 ELIAS CLOSE
5TH HINDON COURT, LONDON
UNITED KINGDOM

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.

GOOD DAY dear Sir/madam

I am Barrister Bernard Harry Solicitor. I am the
Personal Attorney to Mr Acosta, a national of your
country, who used to work with shell development
company in United Kingdom.On the 2nd of may 2006, my client,
his wife And their three children were involved in a
car accident along Sagbama Express Road. All occupants
of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since
then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to a
locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has
also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided
to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate
any member of his family but of no avail, hence I
contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in
repartrating the Fund that belong to my client before
they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where this huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an
account valued at about $30million dollars has issued
me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the
account confisicated within the next ten official
working days. since i have been unsuccesfull in
locating the the relatives for over 3 years now I seek
your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased since you are from the same country and bear
the same last name ,so that the proceeds of this
account valued at $30 million dollars can be paid to
you and then you and me can share the proceeds. 55% to me
and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax
as your government may require, I have the ertificate
of deposit 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= harrylawfirm@w.cn to enable us discuss further,
as i shall proceed to procure all necessary documents
to back up the claim from the law court.

Best regards,
Esq:Bernard Harry

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