419 scam: Okon Thomas <thomasokon77777@gmail.com> Dear Confidant

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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:
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: Okon Thomas <thomasokon77777@gmail.com>
Reply-To: thomasokon19@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:30:12 +0200
Subject: Dear Confidant

Dear Confidant,

My names are Barrister Thomas okon, the attorney to Late Mrs. Lilly
Philips, a widow that died last month due to cancer of the breast.

Before her death my client deposited the sum of $30.9m United States
Dollars with a Finance Company in the United Kingdom.

All the documents related to the deposit which is in my care shows that
Late Mrs. Lilly Philips did not make any will before her death.

Now the finance company is not aware that Mrs. Lilly Philips is dead, I
want us to use this opportunity to claim the $30.9m usd. Before we lost all
the money to them.

Now I want you to stand as Late Mrs. Lilly Philips next of kin to claim her
deposit, if you are interested to be part of these, both of us will share
the $30.9m usd 50/50% equal.

When you indicate your interest, I will send you documents so that you will
understand the transaction properly, but there is no risk involved.

Please send your Response.

Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Thomas okon

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam