419 scam: "Barrister Kennedy Howard"<kennedyhoward@lawfirm.org> VERY IMPRTANT BUSINESS INVESTMENT REQUEST

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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. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "kennedyhowardesq@skymail.mn" (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.
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.
- +447031748534 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Kennedy Howard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kennedyhowardesq@skymail.mn>
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:54:10 -0800
Subject: VERY IMPRTANT BUSINESS INVESTMENT REQUEST

From: Barrister Kennedy Howard

Tel:+44 7031748534
Enquiries:enquiries@howardkennedy.com

Direct/Private:kennedyhowardesq@skymail.mn
http://www.howardkennedy.com/

Good Day Sir,

I am Barrister Kennedy Howard the personal attorney to late Engr. Michael a national of United States of America (USA), Contractor with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) here London United Kingdom.

On the 2nd of April 2006. My client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Liver Pool Road London United Kingdom, Nigeria.

Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, since then i have made several enquiries to the United States of America Embassies to 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 to no avail.

Therefore, I decided to contact you in order to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before his death.

It might interest you to know that anybody I present to the bank management as the next of Kin/Inheritor to my late client would be accepted, this because the bank management did not know any of my late client relative and also the bank management is aware that I am the family Attorney.

I can easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you are the only surviving relation of my client, otherwise the Estate he left behind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where my late client deposited the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Thousand Great Britain Pounds only.

Consequently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over several years now, i seek your consent to present you as the next of kin/Inheritor to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account values One Million Five Hundred Thousand Thousand Great Britain Poundscan be paid into your account and then you and I can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make without any breach of law,

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction though. Remember to include your private telephone/ fax numbers for effective communication and your international passport or driver's license for proper identification.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, Let me therefore expect your urgent response.

Yours Faithfully,

Barrister Kennedy Howard(Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources:

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