419 scam: George Essien <essiensolicitorschambers@gmail.com> FROM BARRISTER GEORGE ESSIEN AWARD 2012

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "registration fee" (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. )
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: George Essien <essiensolicitorschambers@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:07:24 +0000
Subject: FROM BARRISTER GEORGE ESSIEN AWARD 2012

Good Day

The sum of $1,250,000.00 USD has been Awarded to you by the Ghana
Government for the help and assistance you have been rendering to the
Africa Refugees most especially in Ghana. And we have an urgent instruction
to remit this fund very quickly to you.

Upon your request, we are going to transfer this fund to you via Western
Union in (PORT NOVAE) the capital city of BENIN REPUBLIC and Money Gram as
you may want it. Definitely, you have to send me five names which will
enable the Western Union to remit the fund to you as quick as possible on
Wednesday 15th February, 2012.

But firstly you are required to Register with Africa Children Trust Fund
Release Authority where your compensated fund originated from. I have also
ATTACH your (A.C.T.F.R.A) Membership Registration Form with this mail which
you will urgently filled and return back to me with the mere registration
fee $298usd.

As there is existing rules guiding this committee, you are not to send
this Registration fee to me, but to the (A.C.T.F.R.A) Secretary General
MISS. JENNIFER ESSIEN via Western Union to Ghana and mail down the
information to me or via sms. Immediately this is done, less than 30
minutes or so you will receive the Western Union Dispatches of the five
valid MTCN of $9,000.00 USD. Once after you have been able to cash it, do
quickly confirm to me that you have cash it so that the Western Union will
quickly effect the second transfer immediately. How fast you are determine
how fast you will receive your funds today.

I have ATTACH my personal data (Details) for mutual understanding and
attached copy of form from my chamber which you will have to fill and
signed. And then return the form back to me.

Find the ATTACHMENT and get back to me.

Waiting for you.

Barr. Essien George (Esq-sa)
Consultancy, Solicitor & Advocate
Essien Chamber
Industrial Lane, 17B Ministry Avenue , Accra , Ghana
+233-245-265-518

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam