419 scam: James Catoun <gsc_abidjan@yahoo.fr> Hi

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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
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.
- address.james.catoun@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: James Catoun <gsc_abidjan@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: James Catoun <james.catoun@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2015 21:53:09 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Hi

Â Dear beloved friend,

I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you, I am giving you my
trust and wish you will give me back the trust i have given you.I believe that
you will be honest to fulfill my final wish beffore I will die.

I am Mr. JAMES CATOUN, I am 58 years old, I am suffering from a long time cancer
of the blood .From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my
doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond the next two
months, this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage. I was
brought up in a motherless baby's home, and was married to my late wife for
twenty years without a child . My wife and I are true Christians, but quite
unfortunately, she died in a lobour room so i could not hear the cry of a child
in my house Since her death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my belongings
and deposited all the sum of $10.2million dollars with a security company , as
it was packaged and registered as a personal Valuable.

Presently, this money is still in their custody, and the management just wrote
me as the Legitimate beneficiary to come forward to receive the Deposit after
keeping it for so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to
receive it on my behalf since I can not come over as a result of my illness,
Presently,I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing
treatment. I have since lost my ability to walk about or do anything by myself
and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.

It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any business of your
choice and the gain made every year or 6 months as the case may be, distributed
each year among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless baby's
home where I come from. I want your good humanitarian, to also use this money to
fund churches, orphanages and widows around, 20% for you I must let you know
that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this
issue because I have no further option. I hope you will help see my last wishes
come true.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the security
company. I will also issue you a letter of authority, which will prove that you
are the new beneficiary of my funds. Please assure me that you will act
accordingly as I stated herein,Hoping to hear from you soon. NAME: __________SURNAME:____________ ______SEX: _____ AGE: ______MARITAL: _______________COUNTRY: _______CITY: _________ STATE _______ ZIP CODE: _______CONTACT ADDRESS: ________________________PHONE NO#___________FAX NO#_________________ OCCUPATION: ______________POSITION: _____________ waiting for your information,please get back to me through this email
address.james.catoun@yahoo.fr

Hope to hear from you soonest

Awaiting your reply

Yours Sincerely
Mr. JAMES CATOUN

Anti-fraud resources:

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