419 scam: Dr Tom West <drwte1972@yahoo.ie> CONTACT MY LAWYER FOR YOUR CHEQUE

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (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.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22997898722 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Tom West <drwte1972@yahoo.ie>
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 22:00:24 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CONTACT MY LAWYER FOR YOUR CHEQUE

Dear Friend,

Longest time, I hope all is well together with your family, If so glory be
to God almighty. Well,Sorry to hear this news and understand that the
fault is notme. I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting
those funds transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from
paraguay. Presently i'm in Paraguay for investment projects with my own
share of total sum.

Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring this funds despite that it failed us some how.
Now contact my lawyer in Benin Republic his name is Barrister Yves A.
KOSSOU on his e-mail address stated below;

NAME : Barrister Yves A. KOSSOU
EMAIL: avocat_atlaw@gala.net
TEL. +229-97-898-722

I ask him to send you the total Amount of $900,000.00 EUROS, which I kept
for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me
in this matter. I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. So feel
free and get in touched with my Lawyer Barr.Yves A. KOSSOU, I instruct him
where to send the check and send him your contact information like

1.Your Full Name..................................
2.Your Private Home & Offie Address................
3.Your Office & Home Tel Phone...........
4.Your Country Location..........................
5.Sex..........................
6.Age........................

So that he will submit it to the courier company where I directed him for
the cheque to be sent to your designated address without any delay. Please
do let me know immediately if you receive it so that we can share the joy
after all the suffering at that time ok, In the moment, I am very busy
here because of the investment projects which I and my new partner are
having at hand.

Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the lawyer on your
behalf to instruct the courier company to send the cheque to you as soon
as you send your details information without delay, so feel free to get in
touch with Barr.Yves A. KOSSOU he will inform courier to send the check
immediately to you without any delay as i instructed him to do.

Thank you and may God Bless you.

Best Regards,
Dr.West Tom Exodus

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam