419 scam: "kofi"<johnkofi200@mail.com> ATTN,SIR/MADAM

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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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "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)
- "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "kofi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnkofi2007@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 10:59:13 -0500
Subject: ATTN,SIR/MADAM

ATTN:

I am Dr, JOHN KOFI. a Ghanaian National, and a director with the
Bank of Ghana, foreign department Accra.

Please i want you as a reliable and reputable person to handle this
confidential transaction, which involves transfer of huge sum of money.

A foreign National, the late engineer Robert Derry, an oil
Merchant/contractor with the Government of Ghana, until his Death two years ago in
a ghastly auto crach, Banked with us here at the Bankof Ghana
and we had his instruction to receive an outstanding contract sum of
$36 million(Thirty Six Million US Dollars only) in lieu of the contract
he executed for Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (G.N.P.C).

All effort made by the Bank OF Ghana to get in touch with any
of Derry`s family or relatives have proved futile.

Now we have suceeded in transfering this fund to our financial clearing
house in europe, if you can please show your interest that you are
willing to recieve this funds, every information and directive to make
claim of the funds will be giving to you immediately.

Please get back as soon as possible.

Awaitng your quick response.

Regards.

Dr, JOHN KOFI.

Director, (G.C.B)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam