419 scam: "Barr. Dean Scott Esq"<deanscottassociates001@gmail.com> CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSITION

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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:
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr. Dean Scott Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <deanscottassociates@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 00:52:30 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSITION

Hello,

I have contacted you because of a dormant account of my deceased client at the financial institute that is presently undergoing an audit here in the United Kingdom and the client has no heir. The account has a significant amount of money in it. An account is judged to be dormant if there has been no activity in it, or contact with the client for 15 years. Normally, account holders lose contact due to death without leaving a will and there is no known heir to inherit the deposit. The treasury department receives the unclaimed money unless a previously unknown distant relative comes and puts a claim on it, which is usually within a limited time frame.

The United Kingdom’s Treasury Department receives over 10bn every year from unclaimed estates; forgotten funds; abandoned shares and dormant accounts and some of it could be ours if we can work together as I can provide all relevant documents and information. We could present you as the next of kin to the deceased, as laid out in section 46 of the Administration of Estates Act of 1925 (with subsequent amendments) if you agree to work with me. Late Rafik Bahaa Edine Hariri (November 1, 1944 - February 14, 2005),married to Nazek Audi Hariri, was a Lebanese self-made billionaire and business tycoon, and was five times Prime Minister of Lebanon(1992-1998 and 2000-2004)before his last resignation from office on October 20, 2004.The late Rafik Hariri died on February 14, 2005 when explosives equivalent to around 300 kg of C4 were detonated as his motorcade drove past the Saint George Hotel in the Lebaneese capital, for more information please log on to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafik_!
Hariri]

I will need to enter into an agreement with you, which will cover the disbursement aspect of the funds. Furthermore, you will have to sign a consent form that gives me power of attorney to represent you at the probate office (for the Procurement of the Grant of Probate OR an affidavit of funds claim). The amount in question currently stands at sixty million British Pounds Sterling only. At the closure of this transaction, 50% of the total funds will be yours and 50% for me. So, if you would like to team up with me discreetly to secure these funds for ourselves, please have your full information sent to me which includes, full name, contact address, age, occupation and contact phone number(s).

I await your prompt response.

Regards,

Barr. Dean Scott Esq.
Scott and Associates.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam