419 scam: "Mr. Kofi Mensah" <official@22office.com> Kindly Respond*

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such 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.
- kofi.u.mensah@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Kofi Mensah" <official@22office.com>
Reply-To: <kofi.u.mensah@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:18:16 +1100
Subject: Kindly Respond*

Dear friend,
My name is Mr. Kofi Mensah, I=2019m a representative to (Mr. Bashir Saled =
And Mr. Abu Rish) the formal personal Banker and petroleum director to Form=
al Libya president Mr. Mummer Gaddafi who is now present in South Africa.
I'm writing to inform you about our intentions, we have $1 Billion for inv=
estment in your country or any other country of your choice where you think=
the money will be safe under your roof for investment, please kindly get b=
ack to me for further discussion. You can get further details of the fund b=
y checking the website below. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/0=
2/gaddafis-banker-saleh-south-africa).
Presently the $1 billion is in the safekeeping here in Accra, Ghana also w=
e have (1,600 kg Gold) and all the security arrangement to lift from here t=
o your destination as soon as you are ready for the investment are in place.
Regard,
Mr. Kofi Mensah
Email: kofi.u.mensah@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam