419 scam: "Barr. Stephen Cobb QC" <barr.stephencobb200@gmail.com> Urgent Business Proposal x

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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- ",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)
- "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "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. Stephen Cobb QC" <barr.stephencobb200@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Barr.stephencobbQC@foxmail.com
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2015 14:12:38 +0600
Subject: Urgent Business Proposal x

My Name is Barr. Stephen Cobb QC, I am contacting you in regards of my
client, Andrei Borodin,s urgent need for investment in your country. He is
seeking for a private company or individuals that can manage and invest
his funds wisely, he has a huge amount of money in the excess of (
25,000,000) twenty five millions pounds.

Andrei Borodin A Russian ex-banker who fled to London in 2011 after being
accused of alleged fraud has been granted political asylum in the UK, he
has agreed a 20% reward to the person who will stand in as a substitute
beneficiary to the claim, an additional 5% is set aside to reimburse for
expenses in the course of the transaction and the balance of 75% will be
invested upon your strong recommendation to my client in your chosen
destination of the funds,

Please Read Link for your perusal...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21627481

There will be a power of attorney issued and signed by my client to you
for the claim of the funds in the institution were the funds has been
lodge. I will only give further details if you are interested because this
transaction is Highly Confidential.

If you are willing to provide this assistance please forward your contact
information, otherwise please feel free to decline.

I look forward for a good business relationship with you.

Best Regards,
Stephen Cobb QC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam