419 scam: JOHN MENSAH <john.mensah4@btinternet.com> YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: JOHN MENSAH <john.mensah4@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: JOHN MENSAH <mensahjohn1980@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2010 11:56:47 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED

Dear Friend

My name isMr John Mensah, I work with customs preventive unit of the kotoka International Airport Accra-Ghana and I am in charge of the Airport security bonded warehouse.There is an unclaimed consignment that has been in our custody for a long time and nobody has come for it. I recently scanned it and discovered that the consignment tagged family treasures is stacked with United State Dollars of 100 Dollars bills, which total is US$50.000, 000, 00United State Dollars.

I moved it to the custody of a security company which helped me keep it for safety keeping in their vault because I cannot be directly mover the money as a civil servant. My reason of contacting you is for you to stand as the owner of the unclaimed consignment, and I will make sure that the consignment comes to you without any problem. After we have successfully secured the consignment to your country, then we are going to share the money 50/50 among us and any expenses during the processing of this business will be share 50/50 among us also.

My duty is to make sure that the consignment gets to you without any problem, If you are interested in this transaction, kindly send me, Your phone number, Your Address ,Home country etc I will submit it to the security company who will prepare the necessary legal documents of the consignment in your name, for the effective documentations and subsequent transfer to you as you may so advise immediately.

YOUR FULL NAME:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION:
AGE:
PASSPORT

Thank you and God bless you in every of your human endeavor.

Regards

Mr John Mensah

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam