419 scam: "Hon. A. Mensah" <honamensah@yahoo.co.jp> Re: I need your swift 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:

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 us 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Hon. A. Mensah" <honamensah@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: honamensah1@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 07:53:48 +0800
Subject: Re: I need your swift response.

BENIN BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL LAW ATTORNEYS
A. MENSAH CHAMBERS & ASSOCIATES, L.L.B, L.L.M
LEGAL SOLICITORS AND LAWYERS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF BENIN,
COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC.

Hello my friend,

I am Barrister Aron Mensah, English speaking Beninese, Solicitor and Financial Attorney/Consultant. I was moved to
contact you based on the present condition of things here. There was a foreigner who registered with my Legal firm as
his personal Attorney and he was a stock broker as well as a onetime secret agent for importing oil from overseas for
our former Ministers and also a construction contractor.

So, on June 2003 my client made a fixed deposit for US$9,500,000.00 (Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars
Only) in a Bank here in Benin with standing statement/agreement with the bank that all correspondence in respect to the
fixed deposit contract must be sent to him through my humble chambers. Upon maturity, the routine notification was sent
to me, which I dispatched to his forwarding address as usual without a reply.

After a month, I sent a reminder which I received from the bank without any reply again. Finally, I discovered from my
client's contract employee that he died with his family in the Benin Republic December 26, 2003 plane crash. He died
without making any WILL and all attempts to trace his relatives were fruitless.

I also discovered that he did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his fixed
deposit contract with the bank. Hence I seek your consent to present you to this bank as the next of kin based on the
official letter I just received from his bankers reminding me that BENINESE LAW states that at the expiration of ten
(10) years the money will be reverted to the ownership of the BENINESE Government if I do not confirm the next of kin to
claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to my deceased client
since you share the same surname and a foreigner so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not go into the hands
of some corrupt government officials.

Note that this transaction is simple and risk free because I will provide expert legal services that will guarantee the
successful execution of this deal. If you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible through phone, I shall
provide you with more details and how we shall proceed with the claims. I expect you to observe utmost confidentiality
and be rest assured that this transaction would be profitable for both of us. Thanks as I wait for your reply.

Best regards,

Hon. Barrister A. Mensah (Esq)

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