419 scam: Patrick Ottu <yussif212@gmail.com> Hi

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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 friend" (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)
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.
- +22892915960 (Togo, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Patrick Ottu <yussif212@gmail.com>
Reply-To: patrickottu01@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:52:33 -0700
Subject: Hi

Dear friend,

Pardon my intrusion into your privacy; I am writing you this mail in
respect of my late client that bears same last name with you, an
Independent Contractor in Lome-Togo. On the 1st of December 2013, my
client, his wife and only daughter were involved in fatal road crash
while visiting a neighboring country on vacation; am compelled to do
this because I would not want the bank to push my clientâ€™s funds into
the bank treasury as unclaimed inheritance and the amount involved is
$6.5 million dollars. He died together with his next of kin and as
such the funds now have an open beneficiary mandate. Fortunately, both
of you have the same last name so it will be very easy to make you
become his official next of kin. If you are interested kindly get back
to me so that i can give you Comprehensive details.

Yours faithfully,
Patrick Ottu,Esq,
Address: 10 rue du MarÃ©chal Foch
Lome, 4109 Togo
Tele +228-92-91-59-60.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam