419 scam: " ERIC KONE" <KONE1234@key.ocn.ne.jp> HI DEAR

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan 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.
- erickone111@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: " ERIC KONE" <KONE1234@key.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: " ERIC KONE" <erickone111@citromail.hu>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2015 22:59:22 +0900 (JST)
Subject: HI DEAR

HI DEAR,

GREETINGS FROM BENIN REPUBLIC, I KNOW THIS MAIL WILL SURPRISE YOU SINCE I DO NOT KNOW YOU OR MEET WITH YOU BEFORE BUT I'M OF THE BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BE TOUCHED TO ASSIST ME OUT OF THIS SITUATION AFTER READING THROUGH MY PROPOSAL.
I AM MASTER ERIC KONE, THE ONLY CHILD OF LATE MR. BAMBA J. KONE, MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN COTONOU, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF BENIN REPUBLIC BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS TRIP. BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN COTONOU, HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$6.5 MILLION (SIX MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A FIXED DEPOSIT IN A LOCAL SECURITY FIRM, THAT HE USED MY NAME AS HIS ONLY SON FOR THE NEXT OF KIN IN DEPOSIT OF THE FUND. HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES. THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE.
IT IS BASED ON THIS THAT I CONTACTED YOU AND I AM HONORABLY SEEKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.
(1)TO HELP ME RETRIEVE THE MONEY FROM THE SECURITY FIRM AND PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED INTO.
(2)TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND AND TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY AFTER THE MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED.
FURTHERMORE, YOU CAN INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS ASSISTING ME AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULD BE CONCLUDED VERY SOON.
PLEASE CONTACT ME ON MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS:(erickone111@citromail.hu)
I SHALL WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS!!!

KIND REGARDS,
ERIC KONE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam