419 scam: Barrister Harry Burns <burnsharry74@rediffmail.com> On a very serious note

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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.
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 united states 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.)
- "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.
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.
- bnnha61@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Harry Burns <burnsharry74@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 23:31:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: On a very serious note

From Barrister Burns(Esq)

Visible Chambers

10 Bull Ave Decor

lome-Togo

Dear Friend

How are you today??I hope all is well with you.

I am Barrister Harry
Burns,
solicitor.I am the personal Attorney to the deceased who has just the
same last name like yours , my client,her wife and their three lovely
children were involved in a car accident along Kara Express road. All
occupants in the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I
have made several enquiries to his Embassy to locate any of my client's
extended relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.After all 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 repatriating legally the money and
property left behind by my client
before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where
this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly,bank(www.ecobank.com)
were the deceased had deposit value of $8 million united states
dollars,has issued me a notice to provide that next of kin or have the
deposit confiscated within the next three official working months.

Since
I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over years now,
I seek your humble consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased with full legitimate backups so that the proceeds of this
deposit value at $8 million united states dollars can be paid to you
and then you and me will share the money 60% to me and 30% to you,while
10% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require,I have
all necessary legal documents that are related to the proof and claims
of the money.

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.You have to assure me
that you will not sit on the fund when it is finally claimed.

Please get in touch with me through e-mail below to enable us discuss
further.

Best Regards,

Barrister Burns(Esq)

Visible Chambers

10 Bull Ave Decor

+2289111830

bnnha61@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam