419 scam: "Mrs.CHIOMA AWELL" <mrs.chiomaawell@yahoo.com.ph> Mrs.Chioma Awell ESQ.& Co

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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- lawchiomaawell@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.CHIOMA AWELL" <mrs.chiomaawell@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: lawchiomaawell@rediffmail.com
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:45:54 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Mrs.Chioma Awell ESQ.& Co

Mrs.Chioma Awell ESQ.& CoPrivate Mil lawchiomaawell@rediffmail.com Attention
Private Message

I am contacting you for the claim of your late uncle fund that was deposited with the Eco-bank.I am soliciting for your confidence in this matter, this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top Secret. Though I know that a contact of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well since I know everything about your late uncle fund.

I have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this matter. Let me start by introducing myself properly to you. I am Mrs.Chioma Awell ESQ, the personal Attorney to your late uncle Engr.J.C ...(Snr)an oil Merchant with the Federal Government of lome-togo,who die some years ago in Kenya Air Bus (A310-300)Flight KQ430.He was Banking with Eco-Bank and had a closing balance as at the end of september,2002 worth $12.3M (Twelve Million three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).The bank now expects the Next of Kin to come forward as beneficiary.

Efforts have been made by the Eco-Bank Lome Togo to get in touch with any of the Deceased Family or Relatives, but they have met with no success. Now the management under the influence of the bank Chairman and Members of the Board of directors, has made arrangement for the fund to be declared Unclaimed so that they can share the money amongst themselves.In order to avert this negative development, it is my duty to contact you since your name was amongst listed in his personal files that was with me, now you are to stand as the next of kin to his properties.

All documents and proof to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out by me for this claim. I have secured from the probate an order of Mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries, and more so am assuring you that this claim is 100% risk free. Now it is left for you decide on what you will give as my percentage for assisting you in this claim.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs.Chioma Awell.ESQPrivate Mil lawchiomaawell@rediffmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam