419 scam: "Rome Popoola"<romepopoola@ahlawy.com> Re: Your Mail

joewein.net

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "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)
- "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.)
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.
- barrpopoola101@operamail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Rome Popoola" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrpopoola103@operamail.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 08:27:01 -0800
Subject: Re: Your Mail

Rome Popoola & Associates

1st Floor, West Wing, Teachers Hall Annex

        4 Barnes Close

          Off Barnes Road Accra

                  Ghana

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Barrister Rome Popoola, a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr. Michael, a Foreigner who used to work with Atlas Dredging Company in Ghana. On the 21st of April 2004, my client, his wife and their two children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repartratingthe money left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit was lodged. The bank where my late client deposited US$.9.6 million has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin! Or have the money confiscated within the next twenty official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating his relatives for over two years, I decided to seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are from the same country so that the proceeds of this amount valued at$9.6 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and 35% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or taxes as your government may require.

I will procure all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I need from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Furnish me with the following information forthwith your Full Name and complete Address, Your Fax Number. Please get in touch with me by Email: barrpopoola101@operamail.com      to enable us discuss further.

I await your feedback.

Best regard,

Barrister Rome Popoola

EMAIL: barrpopoola101@operamail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam