419 scam: kofi meba <kofimeba@yahoo.com.ph> CONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON(500,000.00 )FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS

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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- frankakwais@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: kofi meba <kofimeba@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: kofimeba@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 07:15:12 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: CONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON(500,000.00 )FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS

CONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON(500,000.00 )FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS
IN COLLABORATION WITH GHANA OIL PALM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED - GOPDC

P.M.B. Kwae, Kwaebibirem District
Kwae (Near Kade)
Ref: 575061725
Batch: 8056490902 Winning no: KB8701
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Dear Winner, ATTENTION TO THE OWNER OF THIS EMAIL ADDRESS;

Winner in the 2nd category of our Shell Management free Net Lottery Promotional award draws held August 2011 .I am writing in respect to your lotto winning prize of 500,000.00(Five hundred thousand British pounds only) which you won through the email ballot draws in our Shell Management Lotto Award in 2011 in the second category prize winnings category. We wish to inform you that your total prize money of 500,000.00 british pounds has been returned to us by our Lotto claims delivery company as unclaimed prize after their initial letter to your address for your payment was not successful.You are here by requested to contact our Director,International Remittance Department for your immediate payment.His contact information is as follows: NAME:Mr Frank Email address : frankakwais@yahoo.com So refer this to him and contact him immediately for your unclaimed lotto prize payment to you.You should contact our Treasury Officer as directed above for your payment,
and do notify me as soon as you received your payment from our Treasurer.

Thanks,
kofi meba

ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION.WINNING RESULT MUST BE KEPT SECRET TO AVOID DOUBLE CLAIM WHICH WILL RESULT TO YOUR LOST OF PACKAGE.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam