419 scam: "Hon. Barrister Aaron Mensah"<postmaster@cnilas.org> Waiting to hear from you.

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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 us 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Hon. Barrister Aaron Mensah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hon.aaronmensah@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:49:00 +0100
Subject: Waiting to hear from you.

A. MENSAH CHAMBERS & ASSOCIATES, L.L.B, L.L.M
LEGAL SOLICITORS AND LAWYERS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF BENIN,
LOT 108, ADOGLITTA AKPAKPA, COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.

Dear friend,

A client of mine, on June 2003, made a fixed deposit of US$9,500,000.00 (Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars Only) with a bank here in Benin in standing agreement with the bank that all correspondence in respect to the fixed deposit contract will be sent him through my chamber. Upon maturity, the routine notification was sent to me, which I dispatched to his forwarding address as usual without a reply.

After a month, I sent a reminder which I received from the bank without any reply again. Finally, I discovered from my client's contract employee that he died with his family in the Benin Republic December 26, 2003 plane crash. He died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his relatives were fruitless.

So, I seek your consent to present you to his bank as the next of kin based on the information I received recently from his banker reminding me that BENINESE LAW states that at the expiration of ten (10) years the money will be reverted to the ownership of the BENINESE Government if I do not confirm the next of kin to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to my deceased client since you share the same surname with him so that the fruits of this man's labor will not go into the hands of some corrupt government officials.

Note that this transaction is simple and risk free because I will provide expert and legal advice that will guarantee the successful execution of this deal. If you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible; I shall provide you with more details and how we shall proceed with the claims. I expect you to observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction will be profitable for both of us. Thanks as I wait for your reply.

Best regards,

Hon. Barrister A. Mensah

Anti-fraud resources:

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