419 scam: "K. Deosson" <kalipe_deos.law@vfemail.net> Assistance

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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "K. Deosson" <kalipe_deos.law@vfemail.net>
Reply-To: barr.kalipe@mail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2015 08:59:43 +0700
Subject: Assistance

Hello,

Please i beg your pardon if I intrude your privacy, we do not know each
other which is true but what matters is the transparency between us in
what am about to share with you. I am Mr Kalipe Deosson. I am a legal
practitioner here in Togo democratic republic of West Africa. I came to
know about you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person
to handle this confidentially. I am contacting you in respect of my late
client, an Oil and Gold merchant. A foreigner in my country who might be
your relation. He left behind a huge amount of money in a bank here
before he was involved in a fatal car accident. I contacted you to know
if you could please diligently come up for this claim as my late client
next of kin? I am his personal lawyer and will give you all the necessary
assistance to achieve this claim with me.
All I need from you is to come in as my late client next of kin. The
intended transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you and me from any breach of the law.
However, if this proposal offends your moral ethics, do accept my sincere
apology. If on the contrary you wish to achieve this goal with me, kindly
get back to me with your interest for further explanations and
directions.
Thanking you in anticipation of your co-operation.

Kind regards,
Kalipe Deosson (Esq.)
Lome-Togo

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam