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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • ghanamr_stephmensah@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Stephen" <steph_mensah01@excite.com>
Reply-To: mr_stephmensah@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 14:19:05 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: From : The Principal Attorney .


















From : The Principal Attorney Mensah &amp; Co (Legal Practioners) 11 Ecowas Rd Accra-GhanaTele:+233242526929Attn: Sir/Madam, I am Barrister Stephen Mensah, a solicitor in law, personal attorney to Mr. S.A Thomas, a national of your country, who used to work with Shell development Company in Accra-Ghana. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2004, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Nouvissi express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also prooved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. However, I contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$5.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or
declared unserviceable by the ICB BANK where this huge amount were deposited. The said ICB BANK ACCRA-GHANA has issued me a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have his account confisicated within the next twenty one official working days. Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over two years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin to the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Best Regards. Barrister Stephen Mensah. Bsc.LLB.TL, Mensah &amp; Co (Legal Practioners).
11 Ecowas Rd Accra Ghanamr_stephmensah@yahoo.com





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam