419 scam: kwasi amah <kamah22@att.net> DEAR FRIEND!!

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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)
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: kwasi amah <kamah22@att.net>
Reply-To: kwasi.amah@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 08:35:08 -0800 (PST)
Subject: DEAR FRIEND!!

Dear Friend,

My name is Kwasi Amah, I am an accountant in accounting department of Ministry of Roads and Highways Ghana. Also am a member of contracts awarding committee of this ministry under Ghana government.

This mail may come to you as a surprise but be rest assured that this is not a hoax mail. I write to solicit your assistance in a funds transfer deal involving US$10,500,000:00M.Two years ago, Ghana government asked my committee to award contracts to foreign firms, which I and my colleague With our good position, deliberately over invoiced the contract sum to the tune of US$10,500,000:00 . a

Now the contracts value has been paid off to the actual contractors that executed these jobs, all I want now is a trusted foreign partner like you that we shall front with the banking account number to Claim the over inflated sum. All I require is your honest cooperation and confidence in me; which I know would not come easy. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate background that will protect you from any breach of the law. I would advise that you give this positive consideration and get back to me soon.

I'll be flexible and considerate in the percentage share that will be given to you for your assistance I know there may be scams and junk mails flying here and there on the internet but certainly, this is not one. Please do not fail to understand that in spite of all that, opportunities of this kind still abound. If you have ever wished or prayed for something good to come your way, now I urge you to take this message seriously and with an open mind,you could never know. This may be an answer to your prayers.

Please do acknowledge your acceptance by forwarding the following to me:Your fullname,occupation,your age, your private telephone and fax numbers.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Bye and God Bless,
Kwasi Amah.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam