419 scam: "Barrister Michael Obi"<imfpayoffice@emailclick.com> ABEN WOHA CHAMMBERS

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "confidential business" (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)
- "barrister" (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.
- obimichael2010@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Michael Obi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <obimichael2010@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:29:03 -0700
Subject: ABEN WOHA CHAMMBERS

From:Barrister Michael Obi
Reply me back here ( obimichael2010@yahoo.fr )
Dearest:Friend.

Firstly, let me introduce myself .I am Barrister Michael Obi a personal attorney to the late Eng Ingo Rasser a foreigner, and an oil merchant here in west Africa (I&R INVESTMENT CO).who died in a plane crash in 2001.ever before he died he deposited sum fund to the tune of US$35 million dollars with a security trust company here in Africa and as his personal attorney I have all the documents with me. all my trace to his divorced wife prove abortive as they divorced since 1999.I have the courage to ask for your assistance to handle this important and confidential business believing that you will never let me down either now or in future.

I have contacted the security company where the fund is been kept as safe keeping, and told them that Eng. Ingo Rasser business associate whom he hand over every documents as his next of kin will contact them for the claim of their late customer assets US$35 million Dollars(Thirty Five million Dollars) with them.

Now I want to ask for your favour in other to provide a foreign bank account where this fund can be transferred into before the security company will declare the fund unclaimed. as an attorney I will provide to you all the necessary details about Eng. Ingo Rasser in other to enable you stand as his next of kin before the security company.

Be rest assured that all his information and his home address are with me, which I have to forward to you once I hear from you.

The certificate of deposit which he used to deposit the fund are here with me, I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money can not be approved to a local bank here but can only be approved to any foreign account because the money is in us dollars and the owner of the Fund is Eng.INGO RASSER is a foreigner a Germany citizen. I know that this message will come to you as a surprise as we don't know our selves before,but be sure that it is real and a genuine business I only got your contact address from my secretary who operates computer with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business. You are the only person that I have contacted in this business, so please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take urgently. Send also your private telephone and fax number . a power of attorney will be prepare and send to you to enable you stand as the next of kin to the late cilent,i will fly to your country for withdrawal and sharing and other investments. as soon as

I waiting for your urgent reply so that i will give you more information about this transaction.

Regards.

Mr.Michael Obi Esq.
Reply me back at my private email ( obimichael2010@yahoo.fr )

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam