419 scam: "Barr John Ibe" <barristerjohnibe1@gmail.com> Attn:Beneficiary,

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +2347026187002 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr John Ibe" <barristerjohnibe1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: barristerjohnibe10@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 24 May 2014 08:07:03 +0800
Subject: Attn:Beneficiary,

From the desk of: BARR JOHN IBE
The West Africa Monetary Intelligent Unit, Nigeria.

Attention: Beneficiary,

I am BARR JOHN IBE The West Africa Monetary Intelligent Unit, Nigeria,
I am directed to contact you in order to urgently confirm from you if
actually you know one Mrs Luis Harrison who claim to be your business
associate/partner here in Nigeria. The said Mrs Luis Harrison
confirmed to us that you are Dead and she will like to change all the
Information that you gave to us as our bonafide beneficiary. This
development is coming now that the Intelligent Unit, Nigeria want to
offset all outstanding payments to all our legal foreign beneficiaries
around the world. Note that your payment file was affected.

Here is the banking information she provided and instructed us to wire
the fund into: Names: Mrs Luis Harrison, Bank Name: City Bank of
California. Account Number: 089764249011. Please do confirm to this
office as a matter of urgency if this woman is from you so that this
office will not be held responsible for wrongful payment or unlawful
diversion of your overdue fund into a wrong account.

It will interest you to know that the total amount in your favour is
of $10.5 Million Dollars. We need to confirm from you if you are Dead
or Alive. Bear in mind that If we do not hear from you within 72
hours,it automatically means that you are dead and the information
passed to us by Mrs Luis Harrison is correct. You are to contact us
through our official email address as soon as you receive this message
so as to know the true position of things in order to avoid any
mistake in remitting your out-standing payment to a wrong
person/account.

If she is not your representative or sent by you, then you are advise
to update this office immediately by reconfirming to us the following
details for us to cross check and process your payment immediately to
you.

1. Full Names:....................................

2. Resident Contact Address:.............................

3. Direct Telephone Number or Cell Number:..........................

4. Copy of your Identity if possible:...........................

Finally send an urgent reply to enable us educate you further on the
next step to take.

Best Regards.

BARR JOHN IBE
West Africa Monetary Intelligent Unit, Nigeria.
You can call me on this number +234-7026187002

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam