419 scam: "MELVIN KELVIN & Co. Solicitors"<info@solicitors.org> FROM: MELVIN KELVIN & Co. Solicitors,

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +2348166263291
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.
- melvin.kelvin@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MELVIN KELVIN & Co. Solicitors" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <melvin.kelvin@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:21:09 +0300
Subject: FROM: MELVIN KELVIN & Co. Solicitors,

FROM: MELVIN KELVIN & Co. Solicitors,
323 Green Lane,
APAPA, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
TELEPHONE +2348166263291

Dear Beneficiary,

We are London based solicitors but right

now presently in West Africa Nigeria

working as representative solicitors to

the United Nations. In the course of a

recently concluded 2010 investigations

and subsequent arrests of suspected

fraudsters in African region, in

collaboration with the present

governments of Nigeria, Ghana, Cote

D'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and South Africa,

the UN security operatives have so far

arrested and prosecuted over 300

government and banking officials and

arrest is still going on.

So far, the UN security operative has

also recovered about $5.1 Billion from

both cash in accounts and properties and

assets confiscated. It is from the

address books of the arrested officials

that your email address was recovered.

Right now, the United Nations (UN) and

their Africa Union (AU) counterpart is

paying a $15,000,000.00 compensation to

those whose emails addresses and other

personal data are recovered from these

arrested officials, and also paying full

contract or inheritance and wining

amounts to those with provable

information qualifying them as genuine

contractors and beneficiaries of funds

in the affected countries.

Which Category do you fall? Have you

lost money to scam? or are you still in

communication with anyone? Are you a

legitimate contractor and fund

beneficiary in any of the affected

countries? Please respond to this e-mail

for your compensation payment to be

released to you.

Please, indicate clearly as you get back

to me for proper guidelines and details

on how to receive this compensation OR

your full payment.

Send your full names, address, direct

phone numbers, occupation and state your

claims to:

Email: melvin.kelvin@hotmail.com
Phone: +2348166263291 Please Call it's

important.

Best regards,.

Best regards,.

Barrister Cajetan Julian Esq.,
(PRINCIPAL PARTNER TO :)
FROM: MELVIN KELVIN & Co. Solicitors,
323 Green Lane,
APAPA, LAGOS-NIGERIA.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam