419 scam: "Barrister Richard Mensah"<richard@hcfu.org.tw> FROM ATTORNEY

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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:
- "million 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)
- "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.
- nkkinw@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Richard Mensah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bar.maxwelmensah@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 04:03:21 -0800
Subject: FROM ATTORNEY

Dear

I am Barrister Richard Mensah the personal attorney to late Mrs. Bozena Stadniczuk, a national of your country, who was a gold mining investor in Accra Republic of Ghana. On the 21st of April 2010, my client was involved in a car accident on the outskirts of the city. All occupants of the vehicle, including his family, unfortunately lost their lives. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating her fund which she left behind in a bank here before it get confiscated by the Bank.

Particularly, the deceased had an amount 12.7 Million US Dollars, after notification of my client death, the Bank has issued me a notice to provide the relation/next of kin or the Fund will be confiscated within the next 90 days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives all this while, that’s why I seek your consent to purport you as the next of kin of the deceased, as a foreigner and that will benefit you and I.

The sharing of this fund will be agreed between you and I, If you are interested write me with your email and telephone number, reply me with this email: nkkinw@gmail.com

Regard.

Barrister Richard Mensah

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam