419 scam: "CARLOS ROMERO"<info.247@yahoo.com> AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE 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:

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. )
- "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)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +34672564343 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "CARLOS ROMERO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <carlos6993@live.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 04:26:20 +0100
Subject: AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE SOON.

CARLOS ROMERO & CO
LEGAL PRACTISIONER & NOTARIA AGENCIA
C/MOTE LION 37, 1-B 28010,
MADRID, SPAIN.
TEL: +34 672 564 343
EMAILl: ......................

RE: REGARDING MY CLIENT,

I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was borne out of desperation and current development here in my chambers. Please bear with me.I am Attorney Carlos Romero, a solicitor at law here in MADRID-SPAIN. I was The Personal Attorney to late WILLIAMS STEWARD, a national of your country who owned a steel plant here in SPAIN. He shall hereinafter be referred to as my ´Client`.

On the 11th of March 2004, my client, his Wife and their 2 Children were involved in the Madrid train bomb attack, along Atocha train centre. 190 occupants of the train unfortunately lost their lives. For more details, follow the link below:
http://www.answers.com/topic/2004-madrid-train-bombings.

I know that my client had no living kin but I went ahead and made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my Clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. I only did so to be double sure of this Fact. After these several unsuccessful attempts, Hence I contacted you. I have 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 deposits were lodged, particularly a PRIVATE BANK here in MADRID, SPAIN where my client had an account balance valued at about US$2.5 Million( Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars).This account will be confiscated after Seven Years if not claimed and shall be taken over as unclaimed fund since there is no Next of Kin to claim the fund.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over six years and some months now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$2.5 Million Dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share 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 disposition and sincere co-operation 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 as long as you treat it confidential to yourself since actually you may or may not be the Next of kin to my late client because he did not mention you to me as his relative. No staff of the Bank knows you are not the next of kin to my late client, but they will believe me since I am the private and you bear the same last name with my late client. The onus actually lies on me as the
lawyer to provide you to the ban

Please get in touch with me on my telephone number: +34 672 564 343 to enable us discuss further. You must maintain absolute confidentiality to ensure success. I look forward to your urgent response because time is of essence here.

Sincerely Yours,

Carlos Romero Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam