419 scam: BARRISTER JOHN SALIFOU SIGO <amakwu@yahoo.in> To,,,,,,, Ryan Rafferty

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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "johnsalifousurnameorinitial@yahoo.in" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22967622798 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: BARRISTER JOHN SALIFOU SIGO <amakwu@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: johnsalifousurnameorinitial@yahoo.in
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 23:00:37 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: To,,,,,,, Ryan Rafferty

BARR J.S SIGO, Esq
Associations de Juristes d'Affaires
Bureau 01, B.P. 7594
Cotonou-Benin Republic

Attention Dear : Rafferty ,

I am Mr. JOHN SALIFOU SIGO, a personal attorney to the late Mr. Michael K. Rafferty ,a national of your country who worked as a director in the Oil & Gas Industry in Port-Novo, Benin Republic. On the 27th of May 2009 he was involved in an auto accident and all occupants of the vehicle lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of his extended relatives but to no avail until I found you after reading your profile in the Internet.

I seek your consent to present you to the bank as his next of kin. You will stand as the right beneficiary of his sum of $9. 7Million USD deposited with one of the Commercial Bank and his un-supervised estate left behind. I will forward the details to you for perusal upon receiving your information as below to help me know you more properly:

Your Full Names and Address,
Your Age, Occupation and Position,
Your Telephone/Mobile Phone Number for Communication Purpose.

Finally, we will discuss on the sharing ratio of this fund as soon as I receive your information through my private e-mail address here (johnsalifousurnameorinitial@yahoo.in) Thanks for your understanding and future co-operation.

Mr. JOHN SALIFOU SIGO
Attorney At Law
Tel: +229 67622798

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam