419 scam: "Soro"<paulsoro1@yahoo.co.uk> Please reply to this business

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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)
- "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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- bar_paul@hotmail.fr (Hotmail, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Soro" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bar_paul@hotmail.fr>
Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 09:02:40 -0000
Subject: Please reply to this business

FROM: PAUL SORO
PRINCIPAL PARTNER
SECONDGATE SOLICITORS.
LOME REP.OF TOGO.

Dear friend,

I know this way of communication is not the most secured channel to pass a message of this importance but right now, it is the quickest means available to me, please bear with me.

My name is Paul Soro, an Attorney at Law. This involves a foreign client of mine, who here in after shall be referred to as my client, who died as a result of heart-related condition on November, 2004.

I have contacted you to assist in transferring the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this deposit valued at 6.7million dollars is lodged. This Bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next- of-kin and beneficiary of my late client, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

Please contact me at once to indicate your interest. Do understand that this transaction does require utmost confidence and you should keep this mail to yourself not withstanding if you are rejecting the transaction or accepting it.

Note that I reserve the right to reject your acceptance of this proposal if I have reasons to believe that you may not be honest or discrete as it concerns this proposal.

Further details will be given as soon as your interest is indicated.

Best Regards,
Paul Soro (Esq).

Please reply to my official email address: bar_paul@hotmail.fr

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam