419 scam: "austin addo" <austin.addo40@gmail.com> INVESTMENT PROJECT

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million us 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 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.
- austin_addo000@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "austin addo" <austin.addo40@gmail.com>
Reply-To: austin_addo000@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 04:02:59 +0100
Subject: INVESTMENT PROJECT

*FROM MR AUSTIN ADDO
DEPUTY MANAGER GHANA,
COMMERCIAL BANK LTD
WEST AFRICAN.

ATTN:SIR

MY NAME IS MR AUSTIN ADDO DEPUTY MANAGER GHANA COMMERCIAL BANK LTD WEST
AFRICAN. I AM A GHANAIAN MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS, I NEED A TRUST WORTHY
PARTNER TO ASSIST ME IN THE TRANSFER OF (FOUR MILLION US DOLLARS) $ 4 M
USDA FOR FURTHER INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY.

YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO.

(1) ASSIST ME IN THE TRANSFER OF THIS SUM TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
(2)ADVISE ON AREAS FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY.
(3) ASSIST ME IN CARRYING A FEASIBILITY STUDY BEFORE ACTUAL INVESTMENT.

IF YOU DECIDE TO RENDER YOUR SERVICE TO ME IN THIS REGARD, YOU WILL BE PAID
10%OF THE TOTAL FUNDS. REPLY BACK IF YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH ME.
RESPECTFULLY
MR AUSTIN ADDO
DIRECTOR.*

*REPLY TO(*austin_addo000@yahoo.com<http://us.mc462.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=austin_addo000@yahoo.com>
*)*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam