419 scam: Dr Celes Godson <gov.workersburkinafaso@live.com> (no subject)

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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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- danego1977@post.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Celes Godson <gov.workersburkinafaso@live.com>
Reply-To: danego1977@post.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:47:57 +0000 (GMT)
Subject:

Dear friend, i am Celes Godson, manager auditing & accounting section Bank of Africa. It's my urgent need for a foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction. I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of US$11.5 million into your account. I want you to help me by receiving the said amount US$11.5 million into your account, i will offer you 40% of the total fund equivalent to US$4.6 million if you accept to assist me in this transaction and i want to assure you that this transaction is absolutely safe, legal and risk free. I want to know your ability to handle this transaction over there in your country. Please tell me more about the political stability in your country and how safe it is to invest in your country because i would like to invest in your country.
I will be waiting for your urgent response to my private E-mail: danego1977@post.com Please keep this transaction as a top secret, don't tell anybody about it for our own good OK.
Thanks,
Sincerely,
Celes Godson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam