419 scam: Ahmed Office <aoffice81@yahoo.pt> STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

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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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22996893568 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Ahmed Office <aoffice81@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Ahmed Office <drahk01@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 19:27:26 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Â FROM DR.AHMED KABORE
CONTACT NUMBER +22996893568
COTONOU,REPUBLIC OF BENIN

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Compliment of the day, I know that this message might meet you in utmost surprise. However, it's just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction; I got your contact from the professional data base found in the internet Yahoo tourist search when I was searching for a foreign reliable partner. I assured of your capability and reliability to champion this business opportunity.

I am (Dr Ahmed Kabore) a banker by profession from Cotonou, Republic of Benin in west Africa and currently holding the post of Audits and Account manager at the foreign remittance department, African development bank (A.D.B) I have the opportunity of transferring the left over sum of ($10.5 Million Dollars) that belongs to late Mr Rudi Harmanto, from Indonesia who died along with his entire family in the Asia Earth Quake (TSUNAMI, DISASTER IN INDONESIA / INDIA. 2004, and since then the fund has been in a suspense account.

After my further investigation, I discovered that Mr Rudi Harmanto died with his next of kin and according to the laws and constitution guiding this banking institution, stated that after the expiration of (10) years, if no body or person comes for the claim as the next of kin, the fund will be channel into national treasury as unclaimed fund. Because of the static of this transaction I want you to stand as the next of kin so that our bank will accord you their recognition and have the fund transfer to your bank account.

Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 50/50; I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is hitch free if you can follow my instruction and direction.However, further details of this transaction and the text of application form will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your return mail.

Sorry if you received this letter in your spam,Due to recent connection error here in my country. I am waiting for your immediate response as you receive this mail. Extend my sincere greetings to your entire family. God bless you and bye for now.

Yours Faithfully,
Dr Ahmed Kabore

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam