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.
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:
"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)
"your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
"utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
"observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
"abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 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.
phillipkouassi@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Phillip Kouassi" <phillipkouassi@gmail.com> Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 22:40:53 +1100 Subject: From Mr.Phillip Kouassi
Drive.com.au
Message from Mr.Phillip Kouassi (phillipkouassi@gmail.com)
Hello
My name is Mr.Phillip Kouassi the principal treasury officer with one of the prime banks in Cote d'Ivoire. I have decided to contact you through this medium based on a business proposal, which will be of mutual benefit to both of us. I iscovered your email through comprehensive web email search on directory so I decided to contact you. I know this might sound like scam to you because of a lot of activities going on in the internet today.But I assure you that this is real.
I am the personal accounts manager to one of our late client , a national of your country, who used to work with an oil servicing company here in Cote d'Ivoire, the late client made a numbered time (fixed) deposited for twelve calendar months,valued at ?18,200,000.00 (Eighteen Million Two Hundred Thousand European Euros) in my branch.
Upon maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, PETRO-CI Corporation that my client died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a will and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that the deceased person did not declare any next of kin in all his official documents,including his bank deposit paperwork. This sum of (?18,200,000.00) is still sitting in the bank and the interest is rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year.
No one will come forward to claim it. According to the law of Cote d'Ivoire, at the expiration of 5{five} years, the money will l revert to the ownership of the Cote d'Ivoire government if nobody claims the funds.Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to deceased person for the fact that you have same last name with him so that this money will not be reverted by the government. If this request matches with your inward intention for success and greatness, then you are urged to make a quick response indicating your interest and readiness to participate and work with me to make this successful.Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. In your return mail, please do forward your information as listed below if you are willing to complete this deal with me, to enable me put
the total fund in your name for claim as the next of kin to the deceased person:
Your full name:
Your contact address:
Occupation;
Your phone number:
Date of Birth:
I wait for your urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Mr.Phillip Kouassi
Rue 18 Avenue 11 Angre
Cocody-BP 982 Abidjan 01
Abidjan-Ivory Coast
Sports automatic single clutch, Hatchback, 5 doors, 5 seats, 82kw, 1.6L, Origin : FRANCE, 2013
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