419 scam: Andrew Segbeya <edward2.edward@aim.com> Very Urgent Attention Needed.

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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. )
- "million 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)
- "% will be for you" (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.)
- "chambers" (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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22997842638 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- divinechamber.lawoffice1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Andrew Segbeya <edward2.edward@aim.com>
Reply-To: dr.segbeya@laposte.net
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 12:19:16 +0100
Subject: Very Urgent Attention Needed.

Very Urgent Attention Needed.
Andrew Segbeya Chambers
Gbegamey BP 4407 Cotonou,
Republic Du Benin,
Tele:+229 978-426-38
Private:divinechamber.lawoffice1@gmail.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am sending you this email and I believe you must have been getting
something similar but still seems this is the only best way of
communication apart from telephone conversation, but we cannot because
there are Bad people in the world and will not recognize the good
ones, so I advice you to settle down and read this mail
comprehensively and you will know I am for REAL.

Well, Barrister Andrew Segbeya is my name, I was born in the City of
Cotonou but I traveled sometime and I studied in UK , I am a
Solicitor. I am the Personal legal representative to Late Mr. Steve
Anderson, who used to work with (SONACOP Company Limited) in Cotonou
Benin Republic.

Something painful happened on the 21st September 2009, as Mr. Steve
Anderson, was traveling from Cotonou for a holiday with his Wife and
only Son Jerry, Unfortunately, while they were at along Port-Novo
Express Road, they had an accident and they all lost their lives in
the event of the Accident.

Since then, I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate
any of my client's relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
Subsequent to these several failed efforts, I strong-willed to unearth
his associations over the Internet to locate any member of his family
but for no avail, hence, I wanted to put the announcement on
television or news paper but that will alert the bank knows that I
don?t know any of his family member and then, they will have the
chance to confiscate the fund just like that. Right now, I contacted
you to assist in repatriating the Fund.

This Bank has waited for me for more than one year now, So they issued
me another notice to provide the Next of Kin to late Mr. Steve
Anderson, who will claim the US$15 (Fifteen Million United States
Dollars Only) in their custody within the next Fourteen official
working days as the bank knows me very well, I do visit their office
with Late Mr. Steve Anderson, so they all knows I and Mr. Steve
Anderson, and they all know that I am his only Attorney and they
believe I should know everything about him.

Since, I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over
more than one year now, I seek your consent to present you to claim
the fund as the Next of Kin, to the deceased, so as to enable the Bank
transfer the fund into your Account.

Upon receipt of the fund, I will either give you an account from
another bank where you will transfer my share to me or I will come
over to your country to meet with you for the disbursement of the
fund, and then you and I will share the money in this order: 60% will
be for me, 40% will be for you. I have all the necessary legal
documents that can back our claim we may make with the Bank.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this
deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a justified
arrangement that will protect you from any Breach of the Law.

Thanks, as I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely Yours,
Barrister Andrew Segbeya.(Esq)
Private:divinechamber.lawoffice1@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam