419 scam: JOY <matt.cat@verizon.net> DEAR FRIEND CONTACT ME URGENTLY!!!

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- paulgrimwoodpartner@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: JOY <matt.cat@verizon.net>
Reply-To: JOY <joy.n.amuzu@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 04:23:00 -0700
Subject: DEAR FRIEND CONTACT ME URGENTLY!!!

DEAR FRIEND CONTACT ME URGENTLY!!!

My name is Paul Grimwood Partner, head of dispute resolution, partner at Hart Brown Solicitors United Kingdom. Hart Brown Solicitors is a leading law firm with offices throughout Surrey and in London.

I have this privilege to contact after making some diligent profile search in your area in connection with late Mr. Steven a client of our firm, a national of your country who who lived at 45 Kensington Gardens, London, W8 400 and died with the wife in the terrorist bombing attack at Tavistock Square London on 7 July 2005.

Our client died in the tragic bombing attack with the wife. In 2004, he intended to buy a telecommunication company outside the United Kingdom but due to some problem with the communication company and the government of that country, the project was withheld for the issue to be settled. Under my advice as his lawyer, the investment capital was deposited for a 12 month Term deposit with a bank there. Due to the death of my client in 2005, the project was not executed.

Since 2005, we have been making every effort to locate our client`s extended relatives for the claim of the legacy but all to no avail.

Now, the bank is intending to confiscate the legacy of our client, since there has not been any beneficiary presented following the termination of the term deposit since 2005. In other to prevent the legacy from being confiscated by the bank, we decided to make a family name profile search in your country and in the process of that we came across your contact with the same family name of our client, hence we contact you to have your consent to present you to the bank as heir to our client.

Kindly get back to us as soon as you receive this letter as the need is extremely urgent.: (PaulGrimwoodPartner@gmail.com)

With Regards

Paul Grimwood
Hart Brown Solicitors.
Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution
Telephone: 01483 887703
Website: http://www.hartbrown.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam