419 scam: "Barrister.Mr. Andy F. Darkoh" <act_lawyer@yahoo.co.uk> Awaiting your quick response.

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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:
- "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. )
- "huge deposit" (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.)
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.
- officemail.andydarkoh@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister.Mr. Andy F. Darkoh" <act_lawyer@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: officemail.andydarkoh@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:56:39 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Awaiting your quick response.

Dear Sir\Madam,

I am Mr. Andy F. Darkoh a solicitor at law. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr. DR. DONG GUESSEU a National from SOLOMON ISLAND, who used to work with Gold Dust Development Company limited in Ghana Here in after Gold company be referred to as my client. On the 24st of Oct 2005 my client,and his wife and their three children were involved in a air line accident along plan crash All occupants of the plane unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made enquirers to his embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, which has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace whosoever that bears his last name in his country, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get Confiscated or declared Unserviceable by the Bank (GCB) where this huge deposit IN ESCROW ACCOUNT were lodged.
Particularly, the Ghana Commercial Bank Limited where by then deceased had an account valued at about. ($8.500,000,00)

Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars U.S.A in there escrow account has issued give me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 1 years now.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at $8.500,000,00 Million Dollars USD can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money 60% to me and 40% to you. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction, which is of mutual benefit. This is by virtue of its nature of being utterly confidential. I got your contact through Microsoft board committee link. I am sure and have confidence of your ability, and reliability to prosecute a transaction of this great magnitude of TRUST. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please kindly contact me on my office email.

E-mail Address: officemail.andydarkoh@yahoo.co.uk Above for more briefing. Awaiting your quick response.

Best regards

Barrister.Mr. Andy F. Darkoh
E-mail: officemail.andydarkoh@yahoo.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam