419 scam: "Barr. John Okafor"<barristerjohnokafor@live.com> URGENT REQUEST 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:

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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr. John Okafor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barristerjohnokafor@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:01:52 -0800
Subject: URGENT REQUEST NEEDED.

Attn: Friend,

I am John Okafor Esq. Attorney and secretary to my late diseased client of Gulf Stream crude oil. Prior to his unexpected death in August 2006 deposited $17.5M USD on trust with a Bank. Eventually, he died in a plane crash and since his death; nobody has Apply for the claims of his estate as the next of kin. It is a situation I have monitored closely with the financial institution.

I have monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before his death and hence nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past years. I now solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every other arrangement has been concluded by me, there is no risk attached to it as the entire document required for claims will be obtained legally by me as his proxy.

To facilitate a rather more secured link with you, kindly indulge me with the Following:

1). Full Names, sex and Address
2). Telephone, Fax and Cell phone numbers.

This project is ready for execution as soon as I hear from you. I look forward to your swift response to this letter.

Sincerely Yours.
Barr.John Okafor Esq.
Principal Partner (Paul Owen & Associates

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam