419 scam: "Allen Hogan"<ahoganllm@btinternet.com> Re: Notification of Inheritance

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- hogancollm@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Allen Hogan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hogancollm1@aim.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:14:07 +0100
Subject: Re: Notification of Inheritance

New Page 1
Date: Friday, March 24, 2010

Dear Friend,

Good day, I am highly delighted to be in contact with you and sorry for the embarrassment this mail might be to you as we have not met or known each other before but it is with trust and believe that I write to you. I am Attorney Allen Hogan, a Legal Practitioner. I am contacting you so that we can carry out this mutually transaction due to the confidence and trust I have in you irrespective of the fact that we have not met or see each other before.

My late Client Mr. Thomas J. Greenberg an American, until his death deposited a total of US$8.600,000.00 Million (Eight Million Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) on April 2007 with a bank. He was an Oil Consultant/Contractor when he was alive. Since I am the personal attorney to Mr. Thomas J. Greenberg, he gave me the custody of the deposit documents, and as such I am permissible to transfer and execute this deposit to any Next of Kin after his demise. I have since tried to locate any member of his immediate family without success; hence I decided to contact you so that you can rightfully/legitimately stand as the beneficiary to inherit the deposited sum. This is a staggering sum like you know and I need a reliable person to help me with necessary arrangements to transfer the deposited sum in your name and recommendation before it is declared dormant by the financial institution where the said fund was deposited.

By virtue of my position as an Attorney, I will arrange the documents in your name so that you can legitimately apply as the heir to my late client for the proceeds of the said amount to be paid to you. Note: You not being his blood relative will not be a barrier to the success of this transaction. Your entitlement for your assistance will be discussed and agreed on my receipt of your possible response and I will prepare a formal agreement to guide us in this transaction for accountability purpose and to avoid going contrarily to the law.

I would like you to contact me at hogancollm@aol.com after reading this message if you are interested to stand as the beneficiary. I hope to receive a prompt and positive response from you.

Yours truly,

Allen Hogan, LL.M
Hogan & Associates.
(Elite Chambers.)
#125 Palm St. Cross-River,
Calabar.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam