419 scam: "Mariam Bakayoko"<postmaster@localhost.com> From Mariam Bakayoko

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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:
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned 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: "Mariam Bakayoko" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mariam2.5bakayoko@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Jul 2013 15:42:07 -0000
Subject: From Mariam Bakayoko

>From Mariam Bakayoko
Regional Bank Manager of (BOA)
Bank.Abidjan-Cote D'Ivoire

Dear Sir,

Please pardon me if i interfere into your privacy, may I humbly solicit your confidence in this transaction, because of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. But I am assuring you that you shall be very happy at the end of the day. I have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction, as I wish to repose my trust and confidence on your discreteness and ability in transaction of this nature. Let me start by introducing my self properly to you, my name is Mrs. Mariam Bakayoko, I am the regional Bank Manager of BOA Bank Abidjan-Cote D' Ivoire. I came to know about you in my Private Search for a reliable and reputable foreigner to handle this Confidential Transaction. It may interest you to hear that I am a woman of PEACE and INTERGRITY; I only hope we can assist each other.

I have packaged a Financial Transaction that will benefit both of us, as the regional Bank Manager of BOA BANK; it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city at the end of each year. On the course of the year 2006 end of year report, I discovered that an excess profit of Fifteen Million Dollars only, [US Dollars 15,000,000.00] which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have since placed this fund on what we call SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without any beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank I can not be directly connected to this money, this is why I am contacting you for us to work ,so that you can assist and receive this money into your bank account for INVESTMENT in your Country.
The percentage Ratio is thus: 45% for you ,50% for me , and the remaining 5% for any Tax or Vat expenses incurred in this transaction.

Note: There are practically no risks involved in this transaction as it is 100% risk free and will be legally bonded, it will be bank to bank transfer, all I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund who made the deposit with Kumasi branch so that my Head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account. If you accept this offer to work with me, if you find this proposal suitable for you, kindly reply for full details .

I will appreciate it very much, If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not make undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed on you, and I assure you that we shall achieve it successfully.

Best regards,

Mrs. Mariam Bakayoko

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam