419 scam: "Mark Brown" <mark_200@aol.com> I need your assistance for Inheritance transfer.

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (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.
- +2349034156690 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mark Brown" <mark_200@aol.com>
Reply-To: zro52390@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 20:17:55 +0100
Subject: I need your assistance for Inheritance transfer.

>From The Desk Of:Barrister Felix Appelbe

Principal Partner,

Redills Chambers & Associates.

Lagos-Nigeria

Tel: +234 903 415 6690

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Barrister Felix Appelbe, the Personal Attorney to a Foreign Contractor who worked with a Multinational Oil Firm in Nigeria. On the 21st of April 2010, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Ibadan Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist me to repatriate the money left behind by my client before they get it confiscated by the Government or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge deposit were lodged. Particularly, the Access Bank Plc where the deceased had an account valued at about US$10.5 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next twenty official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$10.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share this money 70% to me and 25% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require, all necessary legal documents requires for the claims will be processes accordingly.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me as soon as you get this mail to enable us discuss on the modalities and process for success of this transaction.

I also request for your private telephone number, fax number for easy and more confidential communication.

I await your kind response, Good day and God bless.

Regards,

Barrister Felix Appelbe.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam