419 scam: From Dorothe Sossa Esq <pahounou@yahoo.in> Nicolle Leijen

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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.

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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:
- "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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22998465515 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: From Dorothe Sossa Esq <pahounou@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: dorothe.sossa@live.com
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2012 01:03:04 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Nicolle Leijen

From Dorothe Sossa
01 BP 1489 Cotonou-Benin
Private Tel: 00229-98465515

My Dear,

I am Dorothe Sossa, the attorney to Late Mr. Michael Leijen, a national of your country, who was a chemical engineer and contracted with Société Beninoise de Gaz Here in after shall be Referred to as my client. On 23th of December 2007, my client and His wife and their three Children were involved in fatal car accident Along Sagbama express-road in Cotonou-Benin Republic.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries from my embassy to your embassy to locate any of my Client extended relatives who can claim the money out of the bank and this has also proved Unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track His last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his Family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in Repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank here.

These huge deposits were lodged particularly, with the "BANQUE ATLANTIQUE DU BENIN (BAB)" An affiliate of Commercial Bank of Africa where the Deceased Had an account valued at about ($15.7 million dollars) the Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in Locating the relatives for over Five years now. I seek your consent To present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have The same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at $15.7 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can Share the money 50% to me and 50% to you, I will procure all Necessary legal documents that can be used to back you up. All I require is your honest co-operation and tranquility to enable
us seeing this Deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. And the way we are going to achieve this is I will need the following important information`s from you such as.

1)Your Full Name and Address,
2)Your Age, Occupation and Position,
3)Your Telephone and Mobile for Communication Purpose.

I await your reply ASAP

Best Regards
Dorothe Sossa Esq.

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