419 scam: "Mensha Baah"<BAAH@stussy.jp> Urgent Information, Please Reply

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "menshabaahjr68@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mensha Baah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <menshabaahjr@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 10:41:05 +0100
Subject: Urgent Information, Please Reply

>From the office of: Barrister Mensha Baah,

Lome-Togo West Africa.

Dear Sir/Madam,

It is my pleasure to get across to you, please do not be offended receiving this email from me as we have not met before. I will start by introducing myself, I am Barrister Mensha Baah, a lawyer by profession and the personal attorney to Mr. Howell, a citizen of your country, formerly he works with Shell Development Company in Lome Togo as a contractor and he has lived all his life in West Africa.

My client died as the result of a Heart On the 24th of August 2010, because of the death of his wife and the only son in car accident, since this incident happened, I have been trying to locate a member of his family, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in redeeming the funds valued at $24.2 million dollars (deposited here in the bank) left behind by my client as the Bank has issued me a notice to provide a member of his extended family abroad for the claims or have the deposited funds confiscated.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you bear the same surnames, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to your account as the new beneficiary. Kindly reply to me through this stated email: menshabaahjr68@qq.com .

Looking forward to your reply,

Yours faithfully,

Barrister Mensha Baah.

Principal Attorney

Lome Togo

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam