419 scam: " Barrister Tony Obi (Esq)." <www.upsoffice@gmail.com> GOOD DAY

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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:

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:
- "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. )
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- tonyobi06@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: " Barrister Tony Obi (Esq)." <www.upsoffice@gmail.com>
Reply-To: tonyobi06@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2019 02:45:12 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY

Dear:Friend,

It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a surprise. This is
because we have not met before but i am inspired to sending you this email
by the huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual benefit to
the two of us.

However, I am Barrister Tony Obi,the personal Attorney to the late
Engr.Steve Moore a national of Isle of Man in UK, who used to work with
Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) in Nigeria. On the 21st of
April1996, my client,his wife And their three children were involved in a
car accident along Sagamu/Lagos Express Road.

Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the Accident,Since
then I have made several inquiries to several Embassies 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 contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client,I can easily convince the bank with my legal practice
that you are the only surviving relation of my client.Otherwise the Estate
he left behind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank
where this huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at
about$27million U.S dollars(twenty seven million U.S.America dollars)
consequently,The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or
have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.

since i have been unsuccessful in locating the the relatives for over
several years now.I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of
the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $27million U.S
dollars can be paid to your account and then you and me can share the
money. 55%to me and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as
your government may require.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any
claim we may make. 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 by my email (tonyobi06@yahoo.co.uk) to
enable us discuss further.

1,Your Name
2,House Address
3,Your Phone/Fax Number
4,Your Age and Gender
5,Your occupation
Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Tony Obi (Esq).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam