419 scam: "Barrister Andrew Segbeya.(Esq)"<edward2.edward@aim.com> Very Urgent Attention Needed.

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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. )
- "million 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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "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.
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.
- +22997842638 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- andrewsegbeya@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- republic du benin, tele:+229 978-426-38 e-mail:andrewsegbeya@yahoo.com.ph private:divinechamber.lawoffice1@gmail.com dear (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Andrew Segbeya.(Esq)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.segbeya@laposte.net>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:57:05 +0100
Subject: Very Urgent Attention Needed.

Andrew Segbeya Chambers
Gbegamey BP 4407 Cotonou,
Republic Du Benin,
Tele:+229 978-426-38
E-mail:andrewsegbeya@yahoo.com.ph
Private:divinechamber.lawoffice1@gmail.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am sending you this email and I believe you must have been getting something similar but still seems this is the only best way of communication apart from telephone conversation, but we cannot because there are Bad people in the world and will not recognize the good ones, so I advice you to settle down and read this mail comprehensively and you will know I am for REAL.

Well, Barrister Andrew Segbeya is my name, I was born in the City of Cotonou but I traveled sometime and I studied in UK , I am a Solicitor. I am the Personal legal representative to Late Mr. Steve Anderson, who used to work with (SONACOP Company Limited) in Cotonou Benin Republic.

Something painful happened on the 21st September 2009, as Mr. Steve Anderson, was traveling from Cotonou for a holiday with his Wife and only Son Jerry, Unfortunately, while they were at along Port-Novo Express Road, they had an accident and they all lost their lives in the event of the Accident.

Since then, I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. Subsequent to these several failed efforts, I strong-willed to unearth his associations over the Internet to locate any member of his family but for no avail, hence, I wanted to put the announcement on television or news paper but that will alert the bank knows that I don’t know any of his family member and then, they will have the chance to confiscate the fund just like that. Right now, I contacted you to assist in repatriating the Fund.

This Bank has waited for me for more than one year now, So they issued me another notice to provide the Next of Kin to late Mr. Steve Anderson, who will claim the US$15 (Fifteen Million United States Dollars Only) in their custody within the next Fourteen official working days as the bank knows me very well, I do visit their office with Late Mr. Steve Anderson, so they all knows I and Mr. Steve Anderson, and they all know that I am his only Attorney and they believe I should know everything about him.

Since, I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over more than one year now, I seek your consent to present you to claim the fund as the Next of Kin, to the deceased, so as to enable the Bank transfer the fund into your Account.

Upon receipt of the fund, I will either give you an account from another bank where you will transfer my share to me or I will come over to your country to meet with you for the disbursement of the fund, and then you and I will share the money in this order: 60% will be for me, 40% will be for you. I have all the necessary legal documents that can back our claim we may make with the Bank.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a justified arrangement that will protect you from any Breach of the Law.

Thanks, as I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely Yours,
Barrister Andrew Segbeya.(Esq)
E-mail:andrewsegbeya@yahoo.com.ph
Private:divinechamber.lawoffice1@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam