419 scam: Tohu Carlson <tohu344@outlook.com> KOCH, JAMES

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (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.
- +22994964651 (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.
- barr.carlson1980@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Tohu Carlson <tohu344@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <barr.carlson1980@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:48:37 +0100
Subject: KOCH, JAMES

>From Advocate Tohu Carlson1 BP 1204 Tokpa hoho, Bld. Mgr F. Steinmeitz Plan G3 Page 173. Cotonou - Bénin Republi West Africa Email: barr.carlson1980@hotmail.com Tel: +229 -94 96 46 51 Hello , Greetings to you, I know you will be very surprised to read from someone relatively unknown to you before, and I want you to know that the contents of this message is strictly confidential and for mutual benefit between you and I and nothing more.My name is Barrister Tohu Carlson, a Solicitor. And the Personal Attorney to Late Peter KOCH, a national of your country, and a former Director (SOBEGI BENIN) an Oil & Petroleum distribution company base in Benin Republic West Africa. On 27th May 2011,22:53 GMT my client and his Family were involved in a car accident unfortunately lost their lives. My Client has an account here in Benin Republic West Africa with a commercial Bank here in Benin Republic West African worth Eight Million Five Hundred United States Dollars (8.5 MILLION USD).Since he lost his life and that of his family, there is no one to claim the bill and the Bank has issued me 21 days notice to provide his next of kin or have the account confiscated. I contacted you simply because you have the same last name and you are from the same country with him. You do not need to be afraid of anything because everything will be legally followed without any form of law breaching either in your country or mine. However, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to my late client so that the fund will be transferred to your account and we will share it 50% to me and 50% to you. I have all the information and documents relating to this fund and I will present any of them upon demand by the Bank and everything will be executed under legitimate arrangement without any form of law breaching either in your country or mine. I must also assure you that all arrangement for a successful transaction have been setting in place, so everything will be perfectly worked out without hitch. All I required from you now is your mutual understanding and honest co-operation to enable us seeing this business through. I will need the following information to proceed with the transfer. Your Full Name......... Address......... Country/city............... Your Age............... Your Occupation...... Your Position........... Your Phone Number....... Your private email address........ (For Communication Purpose). I am waiting for your urgent response as soon as possible and please reply me to my private email address ( barr.carlson1980@hotmail.com).Best Regards, Tohu Carlson Esq . Tel: +229 -94 96 46 51.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam