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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • barrister_koffimensah001@yahoo.co.nz (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Koffi Mensah" <barrkoffimensah@btconnect.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:26:30 +0100
Subject: PLEASE I YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE

FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER ,
Koffi Mensah CHAMBERS,
10c/11 Palace Close,
lapass road Accra Ghana.
EMAIL: barrister_koffimensah001@yahoo.co.nz <mailto:barrister_koffimensah001@yahoo.co.nz>


Dear Friend, Very Very Urgent Please

Please accept my unsoilicited mail to you.firstly,let me introduce myself to you.I am Barrister Koffi Mensah a solicitor at law.

I am the Personal Attorney to (Mr Abdullah.Saleh),A native your Country Who was Among those that died on Egypt Air Flight 990 on Oct. 31, 1999., my Friend and his Brother Nasim) were involved in a Aircraft accident All occupants of the EgyptAir Flight 990 unfortunately lost there lives.

For further enquiry view the web-site for more:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/11/01/iran/main49778.shtml <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/11/01/iran/main49778.shtml>

Since then, I have requested for a lot information to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several nsuccessful attempts, I decided to search for his last name through Ghana Chambers Of Commerce, to locate a Credible member of his family.Henceforth, I contacted you to assist me in and property left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm where the fund was deposited.Apparently, the finance institute where the deceased had an account valued at about USD$22.9 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated with in the next Twenty one official working days.

Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over some time now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same surname or last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD$22.9 million dollars can bepaid to you and then you and I can share the money.I have all necessary legal documentation that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us achieve our goal. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach ofthe law.

Please get back to me in my private email address
(barrister_koffimensah001@yahoo.co.nz <mailto:barrister_koffimensah001@yahoo.co.nz> } and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enableus commence discussion about this transaction.
Thanks and God bless you.

Best regards,
Barrister Koffi Mensah

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam