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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • afredkoffi_j@yahoo.com.au

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: afredkoffi10@live.com
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 01:31:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject:


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: afredkoffi_j@yahoo.com.au



- From the desk of Alfred Koffi,ICB Ghana.It is my pleasure to seek for your assistance, and you should consider it very important. This is an opportunity i would want us to utilize well. I am Mr Alfred Koffi , an officer in charge of Auditing and Accounting section with International commercial bank LTD Ghana, and also a Relationship Account Officer to Dr Salim Chidiac, a Lebanese.He was a Seasoned Contractor with Ghana Cement Company in Ghana Republic, who unfortunately died in the plane crash of Union Transport Africans Flight Boeing 727 in Benin republic in December 25th, 2003.Dr Salim Chidiac, has a fixed deposit account with the bank and no other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me that his supposed next of kin died along with him in the crash. Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you. I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank to the government. Consequently, Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 7 weeks 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 US$12.5 million can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money in proportion 70% to me and 30% to you.I sincerely request your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law. while it will take only 14 working days the funds will be in your nominated Bank account. you should forward the following information to me for a quicker communication.A. Your Full NameB. Private telephone and fax number,C. Your Full location Address.Yours Sincerely.Alfred Koffi.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam