419 scam: "BARR. IBRAHIM B. LEGWELL." <applemd@outlook.com> INVESTMENT OFFER!!!

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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: "BARR. IBRAHIM B. LEGWELL." <applemd@outlook.com>
Reply-To: bblibrah@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2013 08:58:01 -0600
Subject: INVESTMENT OFFER!!!

ATTENTION;

Naturally, this letter will come to you as a surprise since we have
not met. Permit me, however I am Barrister Ibrahim B. Legwell, from
Tripoli Libya. I want to inquire from you if you can handle this
proposal that will be mutual benefits to both of us. The proposal is
to seeking your consent to present you as the beneficiary to my late
Clint over his fund ($13M) Thirteen Million US Dollars, that was
deposited in a Security Company here in Libya.

My late Clint died with his family during this recent crisis that
happens in Libya in 2011. And I have made every inquiry to get any of
his relative but to know evil. This is why I decided to contact you in
the hope that you might be of help of receiving and secure this
deposited funds in your country, for our mutual benefit.

I wait for your urgent response to enable me give you the full
details. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me, and I
shall be very willing to answer you as honest as possible.

Best Regards,
BARR. IBRAHIM B. LEGWELL.
LLB[HONS].

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam