419 scam: "Duke Osam Duodu" <dkosam123@gmail.com> WESTERN UNION (GHANA WEST AFRICA) URGENT RESPONSE FOR YOUR FUND

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Duke Osam Duodu" <dkosam123@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dkosamod2@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 02:51:02 -0800
Subject: WESTERN UNION (GHANA WEST AFRICA) URGENT RESPONSE FOR YOUR FUND

Attn

I am writing to you directly to inform you, due to series of
complaints by various foreign partners regarding their inability to
access their funds that had been transfer to them in the past through
our Western Union Money Transfer office here in Lome Togo and most
especially Benin Republic and various Banks in Ghana, which had been
withheld for one reason or another. However, West Africa Colonies
Authority has drawn the attention of the Western Union Money Transfer
Corporate Board of Directors to make a prompt arrangement to proffer
solution to this precarious situation before it gets out of hand,
Which was resolve immediately.

I want to inform you of your sum of money discover with the
Western Union in Africa. Please get this fact cleared that the said
funds of 1.000,000 euro has been recovered belonging to you and will
be transfer to you starting from tomorrow morning. In view of this
uncontrollable situation putting the owner and receiver of the funds
into a more state of agony, will be something of the past. An in house
reform committee has being formed by the West African Western Union
Money Transfer CORPORATE AUTHORITY to assist you whenever you are
having any problem in your transaction in west Africa. However, all
the funds which has been ceased from various customers by the Western
Union in Lome- Togo and Benin Republic and Ghana via STOP ORDER from
the Police Force in Togo or Benin Republic and Ghana Banks had been
transfer to our WESTERN UNION office in Ghana west Africa.

As a matter of confidentiality, Western Union Authority had also
employed the service of a most respectful Lawyer ( Barrister Mensah
Bredu) in Ghana to co-ordinate and supervise the reform program in
verifying the ownership of the funds,(Sender) and the Receiver to
enable Western Union Office in Lome-Togo transfer the said funds to
the rightful owners as soon as evidence of ownership be proved
genuinely by the Western Union appointed Lawyer in Ghana.

You may do well to send me your private mobile number and fax right
away for me to contact and advice you on how you can receive your
FUNDS bit by bit. I await your response to enable me advice you on
what to do immediately. There will be no delay , if you can produce
our requirements

1.YOUR IDENTIFICATION ID
2.YOUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION WERE THIS WILL BE WIRED TO
3.YOUR FULL NAME
4.AGE
5.YOUR PROFESSION
6.YOUR DIRECT LINE AND FAX LINE
7.YOUR HOME ADDRESS

Thanks.
Mr. Duke Osam Duodu
Deputy Managing Director
www.arbapexbank.com/vision.htm

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam